Phrase guide

catch some z's

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To sleep.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • His boss found him catching some z's at his desk yesterday.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: crash, doze, repose, rest, saw logs, catch some z's, sleep, sleep a wink, slumber, snooze

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Alternative form of catch some z's.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

be asleep

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sleep, kip, slumber, log Z's

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rest

Narrower terms: bundle, practice bundling, nap, catnap, catch a wink, sleep late, sleep in, hibernate, hole up, estivate, aestivate

History

Etymology

From the typical use of Zs in speech bubbles to represent the sounds a person makes when sleeping (especially snoring).