overdose
noun
over·dose
| \ ˈō-vər-ˌdōs
\
\
Definition of overdose
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
overdose
verb
over·dose
| \ ˌō-vər-ˈdōs
\
\
overdosed;
overdosing;
overdoses
Definition of overdose (Entry 2 of 2)
: to give an overdose or too many doses to
: to take or experience an overdose
—usually used with on
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Other Words from overdose
Noun
overdosage
\ ˌō-vər-ˈdō-sij
\
noun
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noun
Examples of overdose in a Sentence
Noun
She died from a cocaine overdose.Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
By the time Clinton County coroner Steve Talbott arrived at the scene of an overdose in southern Kentucky, the bottles of prescription pain pills usually had vanished. — Anchorage Daily News, "Just 15% of U.S. pharmacies distributed nearly half of prescription opioid pain pills," 12 Aug. 2019 And studies, including the state's own research , also suggest forced treatment largely doesn't work and could raise the danger of overdose for those who relapse after treatment. — USA TODAY, "Could jail-based treatment be the answer to fatal opioid overdoses?," 10 Aug. 2019 The New York Times, citing two people close to the family, reported that Hill died Thursday of an apparent overdose. — NBC News, "Saoirse Kennedy Hill, found dead at her family's Cape Cod compound, battled depression," 2 Aug. 2019 The star has also been dealing with the death of her ex Mac Miller, who died of an accidental overdose last September. — Ashley Boucher, PEOPLE.com, "Ariana Grande Dramatically Takes Out Her Love Rivals in New 'Boyfriend' Video with Social House," 2 Aug. 2019 Authorities ruled 55-year-old Timothy Dean died of an accidental meth overdose. — CBS News, "Democratic donor Ed Buck accused of human trafficking and revenge porn after man dies in his home," 9 July 2019 The daughter who died of an accidental overdose last year. — Tad Vezner, Twin Cities, "Homeless people, urban professionals share wisdom on morning runs," 29 June 2019 On June 22, 1969, Judy Garland died of an accidental drug overdose in London. — Susan King, latimes.com, "Judy Garland remains an enduring legend 50 years after her death," 20 June 2019 That’s more than six people dying of an overdose every day, on average. — Meredith Cohn, baltimoresun.com, "Fatal overdoses decline in Maryland for first time in years as fentanyl-related deaths dip in first quarter," 11 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
In one, Carrillo burst into a Pit Stop bathroom and helped one man who was overdosing. — Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, "Hero’s tragic turn: San Francisco utility worker who saved two lives imprisoned for gun possession," 8 Aug. 2019 According to the plea agreement, Rosen-Hoffberg did not discharge patients who had previously overdosed, were accused of selling pills or had tested positive for illicit drugs. — Phil Davis, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore County physician’s assistant pleads guilty to opioid distribution conspiracy, admits sexual contact with clients," 17 July 2019 EMTs had no reason to think the victims — ages 50 to 61 — had overdosed. — Rebecca Lurye, courant.com, "Uptick in drug deaths coincides with start of statewide program to track opioid overdoses across Connecticut," 7 June 2019 Meanwhile, in a less than two-hour span on Tuesday in St. Paul, four people overdosed on heroin suspected to be laced. — Katrina Pross, Twin Cities, "At least 175 drug overdoses in MN — 17 fatal — the past 2 weeks; law enforcement stepping up efforts," 7 June 2019 Every week, the group, which includes social workers, visits people who have overdosed in the past seven days, providing materials on treatment, offering to bring them to the hospital and underscoring that their addiction could lead to death. — Shibani Mahtani, WSJ, "‘Nothing But You and the Cows and the Sirens’ — Crime Tests Sheriffs Who Police Small Towns," 12 May 2018 Emma Semler was sentenced to prison for providing drugs to her friend who overdosed in a KFC bathroom in 2014. — Ray Boyd, https://www.inquirer.com, "Overdose death changes two families forever; The future of Germantown High School | Morning Newsletter," 6 June 2019 Two people died in Washington County and five overdosed in St. Paul in the last 24 hours alone. — Christopher Magan, Twin Cities, "Laced drugs suspected in four Minnesota deaths, more than a dozen overdoses — fentanyl could be to blame," 5 June 2019 One was a 22-year-old man from Pipe Creek who overdosed in 2017 in Bexar County on fentanyl-laced pills. — Guillermo Contreras, ExpressNews.com, "Leader of deadly San Antonio opioid pill mill pleads guilty," 20 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overdose.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for overdose
overdose
noun
English Language Learners Definition of overdose
(Entry 1 of 2)
: an amount of a drug or medicine that is too much and usually dangerous
: an amount of something that is too much
overdose
verb
English Language Learners Definition of overdose (Entry 2 of 2)
: to take too much of a drug or medicine : to take an overdose of a drug or medicine
See the full definition for overdose in the English Language Learners Dictionary
overdose
noun
over·dose
| \ ˈō-vər-ˌdōs
\
\
Kids Definition of overdose
: too large a dose (as of a drug)
overdose
noun
over·dose
| \ ˈō-vər-ˌdōs
\
\
Medical Definition of overdose
(Entry 1 of 2)
: too great a dose (as of a therapeutic agent)
an overdose of exposure to the sun— Morris Fishbein
also
: a lethal or toxic amount (as of a drug)