Learn English – the difference between nap, snooze and doze

synonyms

In the Macmillan's dictionary 

doze (verb)
to sleep for a short time, especially during the day 

nap (verb)
to sleep for a short period of time, usually during the day

snooze (verb)
to sleep for a short period of time, especially during the day

Are these three words really equivalent? I was taught in childhood, that no absolute synonyms exist. But it was not told about English…

I have tried different dictionaries, but mostly one of these words is explained through another one. Or simply, as in Macmillan, the same definitions are given.

Best Answer

To nap seems to indicate a conscious decision to actually sleep for a while:

I think I will take a short nap before leaving for the party.

As such, I also think that of the three options, napping lasts the longest, you can actually prepare for a nap and go to bed for it).

I dozed off for a while as John went through the 12th power point of the meeting.

To doze, or to doze off, brings to mind what happens during a boring meeting. I don;t think one would consciously decide to doze for a while. I also do not expect someone to go to bed to doze, and usually someone that dozes off will be nudged awake by a colleague :P Someone who dozes off does not usually get to enjoy real sleep.

I was late for work today because I hit the snooze button too often.

To snooze is a verb I know mostly from my digital alarm clock, and it gives me 9 minutes of silence during which I do not really get a chance for any deep or real sleep. I'd imagine that to snooze is something you do for a (more or less) predetermined, very short period of time, without the intention of actually sleeping.

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