overdose

1 of 2

noun

over·​dose ˈō-vər-ˌdōs How to pronounce overdose (audio)
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
overdosage noun

overdose

2 of 2

verb

over·​dose ˌō-vər-ˈdōs How to pronounce overdose (audio)
overdosed; overdosing; overdoses

transitive verb

: to give an overdose or too many doses to

intransitive verb

: 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
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
But, at least for now, the biggest risks with pink cocaine don’t seem to be addiction or fatal overdose. Celia Ford, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024 In 2019, Proffitt’s son George, who was transgender, died at the age of 20 from a drug overdose. Serena Lin, Them, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Next came Jimi Hendrix, a guitarist extraordinaire who overdosed on barbiturates in 1970. Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024 And if Rost was correct, and the man had overdosed on fentanyl, those planets were surrounded by opioids. Blake Nelson, The Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overdose 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1700, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of overdose was in 1700

Dictionary Entries Near overdose

Cite this Entry

“Overdose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdose. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

overdose

1 of 2 noun
over·​dose ˈō-vər-ˌdōs How to pronounce overdose (audio)
: too great a dose
overdosage noun

overdose

2 of 2 verb
over·​dose ˌō-vər-ˈdōs How to pronounce overdose (audio)
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 How to pronounce overdose (audio)
: too great a dose (as of a therapeutic agent)
an overdose of exposure to the sunMorris Fishbein
also : a lethal or toxic amount (as of a drug)

overdose

2 of 2 verb
over·​dose ˌō-vər-ˈdōs How to pronounce overdose (audio)
overdosed; overdosing

transitive verb

: to give an overdose or too many doses to

intransitive verb

: to take or experience an overdose
usually used with on
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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