zizzverb
Factsheet
What does the verb zizz mean?
There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb zizz. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
How common is the verb zizz?
| 1880 | 0.0005 |
| 1890 | 0.0006 |
| 1900 | 0.0007 |
| 1910 | 0.0008 |
| 1920 | 0.0009 |
| 1930 | 0.001 |
| 1940 | 0.001 |
| 1950 | 0.001 |
| 1960 | 0.001 |
| 1970 | 0.0011 |
| 1980 | 0.0011 |
| 1990 | 0.0012 |
| 2000 | 0.0013 |
| 2010 | 0.0014 |
How is the verb zizz pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
Where does the verb zizz come from?
Earliest known use
1880s
The earliest known use of the verb zizz is in the 1880s.
OED's earliest evidence for zizz is from 1883, in the Trenton Times (Trenton, New Jersey).
It is also recorded as an exclamation from the 1820s.
zizz is formed within English, by conversion.
Etymons: zizz n.
Nearby entries
- zitherist, n.1866–
- zither-like, adj.1881–
- ziti, n.1845–
- zitty, adj.1971–
- Ziv, n.a1382–
- zizania, n.1526–
- zizany, n.a1400–1803
- zizel, n.1775–
- zizypha, n.1546–1775
- zizyphus, n.?1440–
- zizz, v.1883–
- zizz, int. & n.1824–
- zizzing, n.1884–
- zizzing, adj.1919–
- zizzy, adj.1843–
- Zlid, n.1616–1785
- Z'life, n.1689
- Z line, n.1916–
- Z-list, n. & adj.1979–
- Z-lister, n.1999–
- zloty, n.1915–
Etymology
Summary
Meaning & use
- 1.a.1883–intransitive. To make a whizzing or buzzing sound; to move with such a sound (usually with adverb or prepositional phrase expressing direction).
- 1883
To-day, after their mud batteries have been zizzing for six weeks, Leon Abbett is stronger than ever.
Trenton (New Jersey) Times 2 November - 1919
The ‘Glorious Fourth’ was marked in Cullman only by an unusual number of cars zizzing along the streets.
Cullman (Alabama) Democrat 10 July - 1963
Then she [sc. a bee] saw the carpet and zizzed.
Punch 1 May 621/3 - 1970
The banger'd started zizzing furiously.
T. Lewis, Jack's Return Home 89 - 2002
Outside the mouth of the cave, hummingbirds zizz past.
Smithsonian May 102/3
the world physical sensation hearing and noise degree, kind, or quality of sound continuous or protracted sound sibilant sound [intransitive verbs] buzz- hurr1398–intransitive. To make or utter a dull sound of vibration or trilling; to buzz as an insect; to snarl as a dog; to pronounce a trilled r.
- hoss1530intransitive. To buzz.
- breeze1688intransitive. To buzz as a breeze or gadfly.
- bombilate1854–intransitive. To hum or buzz; to make a low buzzing or droning sound; to move with or as if with such a sound. Also figurative: to be animated by or…
- zizz1883–intransitive. To make a whizzing or buzzing sound; to move with such a sound (usually with adverb or prepositional phrase expressing direction).
- zoom1886–intransitive. To move or travel very quickly, esp. making a continuous humming, buzzing, or droning sound; to make such a sound while moving…
- zither1889–intransitive. To make a sound like that of a zither; to make a sibilant humming sound; to buzz lightly. Also: to move while making such a sound.
- 1.b.1912–transitive. To cause (something) to make a whizzing or buzzing sound; to cause (something) to move with such a sound.
- 1912
In fact, if every opposing player had zizzed a daisy-cutter into Doc's interior department, he couldn't have been more surprised.
Muskogee (Oklahoma) Times-Democrat 26 March - 1970
Darts and circles about on the floor after its wheels are zizzed smartly.
Daily Telegraph 16 December 11 - 2010
‘No disabled access.’ Frankie zizzed the chair into life, ‘That's against the law.’
L. Welsh, Naming Bones ix. 100
- 2.1942–intransitive. colloquial (chiefly British). To have a short sleep or nap; to sleep. Occasionally transitive with away: to expend (time) in sleeping. Cf. to zizz off, Z n. I.4.
- 1942implied in:
Sleeping is ‘zizzing’ whether it's on the job or in the hammock. [at zizzing n. 2]
Gen 1 September 13/1 - 1945
Get your head down, have a sleep. Also Zizz, Pound the ear, [etc.].
D. Bolster, Roll on my Twelve Gloss. 134 - 1961
Reckon this sector's safe. Might as well zizz.
D. Moore, Highway of Fear xxxvi. 240 - 1972
I zizzed away the worst of the afternoon, awaking some three hours later.
K. Bonfiglioli, Don't point that Thing at Me xii. 94 - 2004
I nod off in chairs, I rest my head on my arms at my desk and zizz.
Daily Mail 25 March 12/2
the world physical sensation sleeping and waking sleep [intransitive verbs] for a short time or lightly- napOld English–intransitive. To sleep lightly or for a brief time; to take a short sleep. Formerly also: †to be sleepy (obsolete). In earlier use also figurative…
- slumberc1220–intransitive. To sleep, esp. to sleep lightly; to doze or drowse.
- sloomc1275–intransitive. To slumber; to doze.
- wink1412–1649To have the eyes closed in sleep; to sleep; sometimes, to doze, slumber. Obsolete.
- to take (also catch, have, steal, etc.) a (also one's) nap.
- to sleep a wink1542–to sleep a wink, usually with negative.
- drowse1598–intransitive. To be drowsy; to be heavy or dull with or as with sleep; to be half asleep. Also with away, off.
- jouka1652pseudo-archaic. To doze.
- doze1693–intransitive. To sleep drowsily; to fall into a light sleep unintentionally from drowsiness; to be half asleep; to nod. Also figurative. So, to do…
- snooze1789–intransitive. To sleep; to slumber, to doze.
- catnap1823–intransitive. To sleep lightly and for a short period of time; to take a brief nap, esp. during the day. Cf. catnap, n.
- snoozle1831–intransitive. To nestle and sleep or doze; to nuzzle.
- zizz1942–intransitive. colloquial (chiefly British). To have a short sleep or nap; to sleep. Occasionally transitive with away: to expend (time) in…
- sleepOld English–With cognate object: To take rest in, continue in (sleep).
- slumber1749–To pass, spend, or waste (time) in sleep or slumber. Const. away, out, through; rarely without adverb.
- Originally Nautical. To settle oneself down before going to sleep; to have a sleep, to get some sleep.
- zizz1972–intransitive. colloquial (chiefly British). To have a short sleep or nap; to sleep. Occasionally transitive with away: to expend (time) in…
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.
Consonants
b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values
- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige
Vowels
- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot
Frequency
zizz typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.
zizz is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands
Frequency of zizz, v., 1880–2010
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.
The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.
For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.
| Decade | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 0.0005 |
| 1890 | 0.0006 |
| 1900 | 0.0007 |
| 1910 | 0.0008 |
| 1920 | 0.0009 |
| 1930 | 0.001 |
| 1940 | 0.001 |
| 1950 | 0.001 |
| 1960 | 0.001 |
| 1970 | 0.0011 |
| 1980 | 0.0011 |
| 1990 | 0.0012 |
| 2000 | 0.0013 |
| 2010 | 0.0014 |
Phrasal verbs
- With adverbs in specialized senses.
- to zizz offcolloquial (chiefly British).
- 1962–intransitive. To fall asleep. Cf. sense 2.
- 1962
He squawked sleepily, straightened some ruffled feathers and tried to zizz off again.
B. Clifford & N. Illingworth, Voy. Golden Lotus x. 115 - 1978
When everyone inside the building had zizzed off he had sneaked inside.
Sunday Mail (Brisbane) 30 April (Magazine) 20/6 - 2011
I must have zizzed off, 'cause the next thing I knew I was woken by a sudden noise.
F. Dunbar, Fire & Roses (e-book edition) iii
the world physical sensation sleeping and waking sleep [intransitive verbs] go to sleep or fall asleep- to fall, lull, lay (bring) asleepOld English–Into a state of sleep; esp, in the phrases to fall, lull, lay (†bring) asleep.
- to fall overa1752–intransitive. Scottish. To fall asleep.
- to go off1813–intransitive. To fall asleep; to pass into unconsciousness. Also more fully to go off to sleep, etc.
- to drop off1820–intransitive. To fall asleep.
- to fall off1822–intransitive. To fall asleep. Cf. to drop off 2 at drop, v. phrasal verbs. With complement, as to fall off to sleep, to fall off asleep, etc.
- to get off to sleep1837–intransitive. To succeed in falling asleep; to fall asleep. Frequently in to get off to sleep.
- to fall off1862–intransitive. To fall asleep. Cf. to drop off 2 at drop, v. phrasal verbs. Without complement.
- tope1863–intransitive. To incline, nod, or fall to one side; to topple or fall over; to fall asleep; to die. dialect.
- sleepy-baw1907–A nursery name for sleep; also as v. intransitive, to go to sleep.
- to go out1928–intransitive. colloquial (originally U.S.). To fall asleep; to faint, lose consciousness. Esp. in to go out like a light: to fall asleep…
- to zizz off1962–intransitive. To fall asleep. Cf. sense 2.
- to zizz upcolloquial.
- 1944–transitive. To make (something) more lively, exciting, or vibrant; to energize. Cf. zizz n. B.2, zhuzh v.
- 1944
Lots of flood control talk is rumbling up and down the Kaw river these days with chamber of commerce groups and army engineers trying to get folks zizzed up into building reservoirs.
Lawrence (Kansas) Daily Jrnl.-World 9 October 2/6 - 1965
An adventurous buyer deciding that model 127 is just the thing to zizz up his mid-season collection.
Harper's Bazaar February 21/2 - 2017
A great recipe for tuna steaks zizzed up with Indian spices.
Daily Mail (Nexis) 2 June
the world physical sensation sleeping and waking refreshment or invigoration [transitive verbs] refresh or invigorate- akeleOld English–1500transitive. To refresh, reinvigorate. Also reflexive. Obsolete.
- restOld English–transitive. To give rest or repose to (a person, a part of the body, etc.); to relieve or refresh by rest; to lay to rest. Also intransitive.
- easec1300–1764transitive. To refresh (a person) with rest or food; to provide accommodation or hospitality to (a guest); to shelter or stable (an animal). Obsolete.
- comfort1303–1725To strengthen (the bodily faculties, organs, etc.); to invigorate, refresh. Obsolete.
- quickc1350–transitive. To give or restore vigour to; to stir up, inspire; = quicken, v.¹ I.2. Now chiefly poetic.
- recurea1382–1647transitive. To restore (a person) to health after sickness, suffering, etc.; to cure, heal. Frequently with from, of. Also figurative.
- refresha1382–transitive. To impart fresh strength or energy to (a person, the spirits, a part of the body, etc.); to reinvigorate, revive; to provide with…
- refetec1384–1525transitive. To refect or refresh with food or drink. Also figurative.
- restorec1384–transitive. To bring (a person or a part of the body) back to a state of health, vigour, or strength; to heal. Also intransitive: to restore…
- affilea1393–1518transitive. To prepare (oneself) for some activity, goal, etc.
- enforcec1400–1775To add force to, intensify, strengthen (a feeling, desire, influence); to impart fresh vigour or energy to (an action, movement, attack, etc.). Obs…
- freshc1405–1910transitive. To give strength or energy to (a person or thing); to reinvigorate, revive. Also: to increase. Cf. to fresh up 2. Obsolete.
- revigour?a1425–1649transitive (chiefly in passive). To restore to vigour.
- recomfortc1425–transitive. Usually of a thing: to strengthen or invigorate physically; to refresh. Also intransitive. Now rare.
- recreatec1425–transitive. To restore to a good or normal physical condition from a state of weakness or exhaustion; to refresh, reinvigorate (nature, strength, a…
- quicken?c1430–transitive. To give, add, or restore vigour to (a person); to rouse, motivate, stir up.
- revive1442–transitive. To give fresh life or vigour to; to restore from a tired, languid, or depressed state. In early use also with infinitive.
- cheerc1443–To strengthen or revive physically. transitive. Of food or drink: to refresh or invigorate (a person, the body, etc.). Also with person as…
- refection?c1450–1881transitive. To refresh, nourish; to provide with a refection.
- refect1488–transitive. To refresh (another, oneself), esp. with food or drink; to restore from weariness or fatigue. Now rare (archaic and humorous in later…
- unweary1530–1699transitive (and reflexive). To restore from weariness; to refresh or rest.
- freshen1532–transitive. To give strength or energy to (a person, a person's mind, spirits, etc., or a part of the body); to reinvigorate, revive.
- corroborate1541–1822To strengthen constitutionally, or organically; to invigorate, refresh. Obsolete.
- vige?c1550transitive. To invigorate.
- erect?1555–1734figurative from senses II.4, II.5. To rouse, stir up, excite, embolden (the mind, oneself). Obsolete.
- recollect?1560–transitive. To gather or summon up (strength, courage, etc.); to rally or recover again by an effort. Now rare.
- repose1562–1892transitive. To give or afford rest to (a person); to refresh by means of rest. Also figurative. Obsolete.
- respite1565–1857transitive. To relieve by an interval of rest; to allow to rest. Obsolete.
- rouse1574–transitive. To stir up, incite to action, spur on; to bring to a state of excitement or heightened emotion. Also with up. Without construction.
- requicken1576–transitive. To reanimate, revive (a person, the spirits, etc.).
- animate1585–transitive. To impart liveliness, vividness, or interest to; to enliven.
- enlive1593–1659transitive. To impart natural or spiritual life to, animate (a body, an individual). Also figurative.
- revify1598–1784transitive. = revivify, v.
- inanimate1600–70To animate, encourage, quicken.
- insinew1600–11transitive. To furnish with sinews; to innerve; to inspire with vigour or strength.
- to wind up1602–transitive. To excite or work up (a person, emotion, etc.) so as to induce a heightened state, now esp. one of agitation or tension. Frequently in p…
- vigorize1603transitive. To invigorate.
- inspiritc1610–transitive. To put spirit, life, or energy into; to quicken, enliven, animate; to cheer, encourage; to incite, stir (to something, or to do…
- invigour1611–transitive. To inspire with vigour; to invigorate.
- refocillate1611–transitive. To revive, reanimate, or refresh (a person, the spirits, senses, etc.).
- revigorate1611–transitive. To reinvigorate.
- renovate1614–transitive. To reinvigorate, refresh. Also intransitive.
- spriten1614transitive. To put spirit or life into; to enliven, animate.
- repaira1616–25transitive. To revive, reinvigorate (a person). Obsolete.
- activate1624–transitive. To make (more) active; to move to activity; to initiate (a process). Also: to motivate.
- vigour1636transitive. To invigorate; to inspire with vigour.
- enliven1644–To give fuller life to; to animate, inspirit, invigorate physically or spiritually; to quicken (feelings), stimulate (trade, etc.).
- invigorate1646–transitive. To impart vigour to; to render vigorous; to fill with life and energy; to strengthen, animate.
- rally1650–transitive. Originally: to concentrate or summon up (one's faculties, courage, etc.) by an effort of will. Later also: to revive or restore…
- reinvigorate1652–transitive. To invigorate again; to give fresh vigour to.
- renerve1652–transitive. To give renewed strength or vigour to; (now esp.) to re-embolden with fresh courage or nerve; to steel. Also intransitive.
- to freshen up1654–transitive. To give strength or energy to (a person, a person's mind, spirits, etc., or a part of the body); to reinvigorate, revive.
- right1658–transitive. With up. Originally: to repair or refurbish. In later use (regional and U.S.) also: to clear or clean, to straighten or fix; (also) to…
- re-enlivena1660–transitive. To give new life or energy to (something); to reanimate, reinvigorate.
- recruita1661–transitive. To regain (one's spirits, health, strength, etc.); to refresh or reinvigorate. Also: to improve or restore the strength or health of…
- enlighten1667transitive. To revive, reinvigorate. Cf. brighten, v. 2a. Obsolete. rare.
- revivify1675–transitive. To revive or reinvigorate; to restore to a flourishing or vigorous condition.
- untire1677–transitive. To free from being tired; to rest.
- reanimate1694–transitive. To give fresh vigour or energy to (a thing).
- stimulate1759To rouse to action or exertion as by pricking or goading; to spur on; to incite (a person) to do something; to impart additional energy to (an…
- rebrace1764–transitive. To brace again.
- refreshen1780–transitive. To make fresh again; to refresh.
- brisken1799–transitive. To make brisk or lively. Also with up.
- irrigate1823–figurative. To refresh or make fruitful as with a supply of moisture.
- tonic1825–(transitive) to act as a tonic upon, to invigorate, ‘brace up’; to administer a tonic to.
- to fresh up1835–transitive. To give strength or energy to (a person or animal, a person's mind, spirits, etc.); to reinvigorate, revive. Cf. to freshen up 1.
- ginger1844–transitive. figurative. To spice up; to enliven, to stimulate; to put mettle or spirit into; to rouse, to coax (into something or to do something)…
- spell1846–To relieve by an interval of rest; to rest (esp. a horse). Chiefly Australian.
- recuperate1849–transitive. To restore (a person) to health or vigour. Chiefly reflexive or in passive with unexpressed agent.
- tone1859–transitive. To impart a tone to (in various senses of the noun); to modify, regulate, or adjust the tone or quality of; to give physical or mental…
- innerve1880–= innervate, v.; also figurative to animate.
- fiercen1896–transitive. To make fierce. to fiercen up: to brush up, enliven. dialect.
- to buck up1909–to buck up. intransitive. To cheer up, be encouraged. Also transitive in causal sense.
- pep1912–transitive. With up. To fill or inspire with liveliness or vigour; to restore energy or enthusiasm in (a person); to invigorate, stimulate, cheer…
- to zip up1927–transitive. To add liveliness or vigour to (a person or thing); to make more interesting or exciting; to make (food) spicier, tangier, or otherwise…
- to perk up1936–to perk up. transitive. To enliven, stimulate; to strengthen, bolster; to restore confidence, health, interest, liveliness, etc., in or to.
- to zizz up1944–transitive. To make (something) more lively, exciting, or vibrant; to energize. Cf. zizz, n. B.2, zhuzh, v.
- hep1948–transitive. To enliven, pep up (a person or thing). Usually as to hep up.
- to zing up1948–transitive. To add energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness to (something); to enliven, invigorate. Cf. zing, n. B.2.
- juice1964–To animate, liven up, inspire. slang.
Compounds & derived words
- zizzing, n. 1884–A buzzing or whizzing sound; movement or activity…
- zizzing, adj. 1919–That makes a buzzing or whizzing sound.