nod off

British  

verb

1. informal (intr, adverb) to fall asleep

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nod off Idioms  

1. Fall asleep momentarily, doze, as in Grandma spends a lot of time in her rocking chair, nodding off now and then. This expression alludes to the quick involuntary dropping of one's head from an upright position when drowsy or napping. The verb nod alone was so used from the mid-1500s. Also see drop off, def. 1.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nod off

Taking L-theanine does improve people’s perception of the quality of their sleep and how long it takes to nod off, according to a review of research published this year in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 29, 2025

In earlier episodes, we see him nod off at his cubicle and he experiences vivid dreams where black goo is emanating from his desk.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 2025

“Mr. Trump appeared to nod off a few times, his mouth going slack and his head drooping onto his chest,” Haberman wrote Monday.

From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2024

If he did nod off, I missed it from my seat in the overflow courtroom—where almost all of the media will be watching from during the pendency of jury selection.

From Slate ● Apr. 15, 2024

I start to nod off in my chair when Andrés pokes me in the shoulder and tells me we’re going to ride horses.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

Related Words

• bed down
• doze
• fall asleep
• languish
• relax
• snooze