English Reference
Noun

snooze

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈsnuz/ UK /snˈuːz/ snooze UK spelling snoozed, snoozing

n.a short period of sleep, usually taken during the day. You might take one if you are tired after a long night or a busy morning.

n.a brief period of sleep, typically occurring during the day or following a period of wakefulness.


SIMPLE

I need a quick snooze before my morning meeting.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long hike through the mountains, the group decided to take a short snooze in the shade of the trees.

COMPLEX

While a full night's rest is essential for cognitive function, a strategic snooze can help the body recover from minor fatigue without entering a deep sleep cycle.

Still, as a big fan of sleep and someone who has never once felt guilty for hitting the snooze button, I have to say I feel vindicated by this new study.

The Guardian· 9 Sept 2026

Unknown, attested since 18th century. Compare Dutch snoezelen (“to snooze”) or Swedish snusa (“to snore lightly”). Compare also Ancient Greek νυστάζω (nustázō, “to doze, drowse”) and Russian сон (son, “sleep, dream”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated