A catnap is a short, light sleep, usually lasting just 10 to 30 minutes. The name comes from the way cats sleep: they doze off quickly, sleep lightly, and wake up refreshed and ready to pounce.

People take catnaps when they're tired but don't have time for a full night's sleep. A student might take a quick catnap after school before starting homework. A parent might catnap while the baby naps. Athletes sometimes catnap between events to restore their energy.

The key to a good catnap is keeping it short. If you sleep too long, you might wake up groggy instead of refreshed. But a well-timed catnap can sharpen your focus and boost your energy surprisingly well. Some famous achievers, like Thomas Edison and Leonardo da Vinci, were known for taking frequent catnaps instead of sleeping for long stretches at night.

When you use catnap as a verb, you might say, “I'm going to catnap for twenty minutes” or “She catnapped on the couch.” It suggests something quick and purposeful, not a deep slumber. Like a cat, you're resting just enough to recharge, then springing back into action.