daze
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“After the car accident, he walked around in a daze for several minutes.”
In context“Following the sudden announcement of the company's closure, the employees wandered through the office in a daze, unable to process the news.”
UsageUsually used in the phrase 'in a daze'.
- 02 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.
Simple“The bright flash of the explosion dazed the soldiers for a moment.”
In context“The boxer was visibly dazed by the heavy blow to his jaw, struggling to regain his footing before the referee finished the count.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice ('was dazed').
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“The miners noticed a vein of daze reflecting their headlamps in the dark tunnel.”
In context“Geologists identified the shimmering particles in the rock face as daze, a common occurrence in this particular strata of the mine.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is highly specialized and rare in modern general English; learners will almost always encounter 'daze' in the context of confusion.
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.