Word
daze
US/ˈdeɪz/
UK/dˈeɪz/
Definitions
01state of confusion
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a state where you cannot think clearly, usually because of a shock, a surprise, or being hit.
n. a state of stunned confusion or stupefaction, often resulting from physical trauma or psychological shock.
“After the car accident, he walked around in a daze for several minutes.”
“Following the sudden announcement of the company's closure, the employees wandered through the office in a daze, unable to process the news.”
Usage
Usually used in the phrase 'in a daze'.
02to stun or confuse
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make someone unable to think clearly, especially with a bright light or a sudden blow.
v. to stun or stupefy someone, typically by means of a physical blow, intense light, or overwhelming emotion.
“The bright flash of the explosion dazed the soldiers for a moment.”
“The boxer was visibly dazed by the heavy blow to his jaw, struggling to regain his footing before the referee finished the count.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice ('was dazed').
Synonyms
03glittering stone
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical · Dialect
n. a type of stone that shines or glitters, sometimes found in mines.
n. a glittering stone, such as mica or quartz, often encountered in mining contexts.
“The miners noticed a vein of daze reflecting their headlamps in the dark tunnel.”
“Geologists identified the shimmering particles in the rock face as daze, a common occurrence in this particular strata of the mine.”
Teaching tip
This sense is highly specialized and rare in modern general English; learners will almost always encounter 'daze' in the context of confusion.
Etymology
From Middle English, back-formation from dazed. Compare Old Norse dasask (“to become weary”), with reflexive suffix -sk, Swedish dasa (“lie idly”), and Icelandic dasask (“to make weary with cold”). Also compare Proto-Germanic *dusāną, to slumber. Alternatively from Middle Dutch dasen (“act silly”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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