drifting off
Losing conscious awareness
Drifting off is the gradual transition from wakefulness to sleep—that hazy state where consciousness loosens its grip: I was drifting off when the phone rang.
The phrase captures the passive, involuntary quality of falling asleep, as if carried away by a current.
It can also describe losing focus or attention: His mind kept drifting off during the meeting.
- dozingLightly, briefly unconscious
- slumberLight, restful unconsciousness
- daydreamingIdle mental wandering
- dream stateConsciousness during sleep
- zoning outLosing conscious attention temporarily
nodding off · falling asleep · heavy eyelids · catnap · disengagement · checking out · spacing out · losing focus · snoozing · preoccupation · absentmindedness · inattentiveness · numbing · detachment · restfulness · half-asleep · withdrawal · aloofness
- absent-mindednessabsent-minded, forgetfulness, distraction, spacing out, zoning out
- boredomboredom, ennui, tedium, monotony, dullness
- drowsinesssleepiness, tiredness, grogginess, lethargy, fatigue
- inattentiondistracted, spacing, absent-minded, distraction, obliviousness
- napsnap, catnap, power nap, siesta, snooze
- restresting, sleeping, napping, dozing, slumber
drifting offwaking up
Emerging from sleep
wide awake · coming to · alert · rousing · awakening
drifting offpaying attention
Directing focus toward something
focusing · tuning in · concentrating · locking in · zeroing in
drifting offanchoring
Fastening securely to position
mooring · staying put · docking · coming back · returning
drift, drifting, drifts, drifted, drifter, drifters, adrift, driftwood