WordGarden.iodrowsy
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /drˈaʊsi/
US
- /ˈdraʊzi/
Meanings
Adjective
sleepy and ready to fall asleep
making someone feel sleepy or suggesting sleepiness
Beyond the definition
To be drowsy is to feel sleepy and lethargic—like your eyelids are heavy and you're fighting to stay awake. It is more than just being tired; it is that hazy, almost dreamy state right before falling asleep. A warm fire and a full belly can make you drowsy, as can a long day of hard work or a particularly boring lecture! Think of a cat basking in the sun—utterly content and delightfully drowsy.
Sometimes, drowsiness isn't pleasant. If you're driving a car, being drowsy is dangerous. Medications can also cause drowsiness as a side effect. In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven," the narrator is described as "weak and weary," drifting into a drowsy state before the mysterious bird arrives. It sets the perfect mood for a spooky tale!
A person who is drowsy feels sleepy, lethargic, and almost on the verge of falling asleep. It is more than just feeling tired; it often comes with heavy eyelids, slowed movements, and trouble concentrating. Imagine sinking into a comfortable armchair after a long hike—that blissful, relaxed feeling often leaves you drowsy.
The word often suggests gentle sleepiness, but it can also describe a less pleasant state. If you're fighting to stay awake during an important meeting, or if you are operating machinery, being drowsy is problematic and even dangerous. Certain medications, like antihistamines, are known to induce drowsiness as a side effect, meaning they make you feel sleepy.
You can become drowsy for many reasons: lack of sleep, illness, medication, boredom, or simply your body's natural rhythm. The feeling is often described with images of slowing down and drifting off. You might say someone has a "drowsy smile" or that their voice is "drowsy and soft."
In literature, the idea of being drowsy can help create atmosphere, suggesting peace, tranquility, or even vulnerability. Think of Snow White falling into her enchanted sleep, or the sleepy village in a fairy tale. However, it can also foreshadow danger, as in the case of someone dozing off while driving.
So, whether it is a welcome feeling of relaxation or a warning sign to stay alert, being drowsy means living in that hazy space between wakefulness and sleep—a gentle invitation to rest, or a signal that something isn't quite right.
Examples
- 1
Car ride
The baby grew drowsy during the car ride home.
- 2
After lunch
I always get drowsy after a big lunch.
- 3
Medicine effect
This cold medicine may make you drowsy.
- Patternmake someone drowsy
cause someone to feel sleepy
- 4
Warm classroom
The warm classroom made several students look drowsy by mid-afternoon.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Driving safety
If you feel drowsy at the wheel, pull over and rest.
- Phraseat the wheel
while driving
- 6
Sleepy voice
She answered the phone in a drowsy voice after being woken up.
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- drowsyadjective
Forms
- drowsiercomparativeadjective
- drowsiestsuperlativeadjective