over·dose
ˈō-vər-ˌdōs 
1
: too great a dose (as of a therapeutic agent)
also
: a lethal or toxic amount (as of a drug)
2
: an excessive quantity or amount
an overdose of fun
over·dose
ˌō-vər-ˈdōs
overdosed; overdosing; overdoses
: to give an overdose or too many doses to
: to take or experience an overdose
—usually used with on
Examples of overdose in a Sentence
Noun
She died from a cocaine overdose.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
Taking it with alcohol can be dangerous, leading to excessive sedation and even overdose.
—Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
Keith Langston, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
The drug-dealing operator of a Bronx daycare where a toddler died of exposure to fentanyl and three other children overdosed was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Monday.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overdose
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
A little more than a year ago, his 39-year-old son, Adam Harrison, died from an accidental drug overdose.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
Taking it with alcohol can be dangerous, leading to excessive sedation and even overdose.
—Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
The movie centers around Cullen, who was a nurse at various hospitals and killed dozens of patients by overdosing them with drugs.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
The drug-dealing operator of a Bronx daycare where a toddler died of exposure to fentanyl and three other children overdosed was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Monday.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overdose
Cite this Entry
“Overdose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdose. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overdose
2 of 2 verb
over·dose
ˌō-vər-ˈdōs
1
: to give an overdose or too many doses to
2
: to take or experience an overdose
overdosed on heroin
Medical Definition
overdose
1 of 2 noun
over·dose
ˈō-vər-ˌdōs
: too great a dose (as of a therapeutic agent)
an overdose of exposure to the sun—Morris Fishbein
Morris Fishbein
also
: a lethal or toxic amount (as of a drug)
overdose
2 of 2 verb
over·dose
ˌō-vər-ˈdōs
overdosed; overdosing
: to give an overdose or too many doses to
: to take or experience an overdose
—usually used with on
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share