DROWSY (drowsier, drowsiest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: drowsier    , drowsiest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does drowsy mean? 

• DROWSY (adjective)
  The adjective DROWSY has 2 senses:

1. half asleep

2. showing lack of attention or boredom

  Familiarity information: DROWSY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DROWSY (adjective)

Comparative: drowsier   
Superlative: drowsiest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Half asleep

Synonyms:

dozy; drowsing; drowsy

Context example:

the nodding (or napping) grandmother in her rocking chair

Similar:

asleep (in a state of sleep)

Derivation:

drowse (a light fitful sleep)

drowsiness (a very sleepy state)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Showing lack of attention or boredom

Synonyms:

drowsy; oscitant; yawning

Context example:

the yawning congregation

Similar:

inattentive (showing a lack of attention or care)

 Context examples 

The great yellow butterflies drifted silently through the sunshine and lost themselves in the drowsy shadows.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

I was feeling drowsy and stupid, partly from my dinner and also from the effects of a long day’s work.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A poor night’s sleep can leave you feeling foggy and drowsy throughout the day.

(Molecular ties between lack of sleep and weight gain, NIH)

When I begin to feel drowsy, I change the heavy book I am reading for a lighter one.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Feeling also very faint and drowsy, I soon lay down on the sofa again and fell asleep.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q) Caused you to feel drowsy or sleepy during the day?

(OAB-q - Feel Drowsy or Sleepy During the Day, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about an individual's feeling drowsy at its worst.

(Feeling Drowsy at its Worst, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about whether an individual feels or felt drowsy.

(Feel Drowsy, NCI Thesaurus)

A daytime non-drowsy preparation used to relieve common cold and flu symptoms.

(Dayquil, NCI Thesaurus)

Signs of dehydration in babies and young children include a dry mouth and tongue, crying without tears, no wet diapers for 3 hours or more, a high fever and being unusually sleepy or drowsy.

(Dehydration, NIH)