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
Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024
In this case, because a rescuer is always present, there have been zero overdose deaths in the overdose prevention sites operating now.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Dec. 2024
Alexandra Ulmer, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024
Nearly 30 youth have ingested illicit substances, several have overdosed and one youth has died as a result of the drugs being smuggled into the facilities, the letter alleges.
—Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overdose 
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Noun
Driven by fentanyl, overdoses killed 810 people in the city last year, although drug deaths have fallen sharply in recent months.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024
In this case, because a rescuer is always present, there have been zero overdose deaths in the overdose prevention sites operating now.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
Between 50,000 and 60,000 Americans are projected to die from synthetic opioid overdoses this year, most from taking fentanyl or closely related drugs.
—Alexandra Ulmer, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024
Nearly 30 youth have ingested illicit substances, several have overdosed and one youth has died as a result of the drugs being smuggled into the facilities, the letter alleges.
—Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overdose
Dictionary Entries Near overdose
Cite this Entry
“Overdose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdose. Accessed 2 Jan. 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
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