Phrase guide

nod off

verb · 2 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

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To fall asleep, especially unintentionally.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: crash out, doze off, drift off, drop off, fall asleep, get off, go night-night, go to sleep, nod off, nod out, sack out, zone

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

change from a waking to a sleeping state

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he always falls asleep during lectures

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fall asleep, dope off, flake out, drift off, drop off, doze off, drowse off

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: zonk out

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: نَامَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ (nāma ʕalā nafsihi) — fall asleep
  • Chinese Mandarin: 打盹 (dǎdǔn) — fall asleep
  • Chinese Mandarin: 打瞌睡 (dǎ kēshuì) — fall asleep
  • Chinese Mandarin: 釣魚 /钓鱼 (diàoyú) — fall asleep
  • Finnish: nuokahtaa — fall asleep
  • French: somnoler — fall asleep
  • French: cogner des clous — fall asleep
  • French: dormir debout — fall asleep
  • German: einnicken — fall asleep
  • Italian: addormentarsi — fall asleep
  • Italian: assopirsi — fall asleep
  • Italian: cadere in catalessi — fall asleep
  • Japanese: 居眠り (inemuri) — fall asleep
  • Latin: obdormiō — fall asleep
  • Latin: obdormiscō — fall asleep
  • Portuguese: cair no sono — fall asleep
  • Sranan Tongo: dyonko — fall asleep