Quick answer
Snooze means to sleep lightly or briefly; a short nap. It is usually pronounced snooz, and today it is still readable to modern audiences, even if it sounds more deliberate than everyday speech.
Word page
Snooze
To snooze means to sleep lightly or briefly; a short nap. It belongs to ridiculous verbs and works best in comic action, lively dialogue, and verbs that do more than plain “move” or “say”. It still feels usable today, especially when you want a word with more character than the plainest alternative.
At a glance
verbcomical-actionexpressive
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
If you snooze, you to sleep lightly or briefly; a short nap. The verb usually suggests something more expressive, comic, or textured than a plain everyday substitute.
Why this word feels absurd
Snooze feels absurd because the shape of it looks and sounds a little awkward in exactly the right way, which helps it stick in the ear.
Origin and history
Snooze is generally traced to nineteenth-century colloquial English. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Snooze is still usable today, especially when you want language that feels more distinctive than the plainest modern alternative.
Example sentences
- I only meant to snooze for ten minutes and lost an hour.
- After lunch, he had a quick snooze on the sofa.
- She hit the snooze button three times before getting up.
- The dog snoozed in a stripe of sunlight by the door.
When should you use this word?
Use snooze when a plain action verb feels too flat and you want the sentence to carry more motion, tone, or comic texture. It works especially well in comic action, lively dialogue, and verbs that do more than plain “move” or “say”.
Similar words
nap, doze, drowse, catnap
Opposite or contrasting words
wake up, rise, stay alert
Common questions
- What does snooze mean? To sleep lightly or briefly; a short nap.
- How do you pronounce snooze? It is commonly pronounced snooz.
- Is snooze still used today? Snooze is still usable today, especially when you want language that feels more distinctive than the plainest modern alternative.
- When should you use snooze? Use snooze when a plain action verb feels too flat and you want the sentence to carry more motion, tone, or comic texture. It works especially well in comic action, lively dialogue, and verbs that do more than plain “move” or “say”.
- What words are similar to snooze? Similar words include nap, doze, drowse, and catnap.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.