plural drugs
1
a
: a substance used as a medication or in the preparation of medication
b
according to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(1)
: a substance recognized in an official pharmacopoeia or formulary (see formulary sense 3)
(2)
: a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
prescription drugs
drugs for treating high blood pressure
(3)
: a substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
(4)
: a substance intended for use as a component of a medicine but not a device or a component, part, or accessory of a device
2
: something and often an illegal substance that causes addiction, habituation (see habituation sense 2b), or a marked change in consciousness
keeping teens off drugs
heroin and other hard drugs
3
: a commodity that is not salable or for which there is no demand (see demand entry 1 sense 3a)
—used in the phrase drug on the market
4
obsolete
: a substance used in dyeing or chemical operations
drugged; drugging; drugs
1
: to affect (a person or animal) with a drug (see drug entry 1)
2
: to administer a drug to (a person or animal)
drugged against pain
3
: to lull or stupefy (someone) as if with a drug
… the kind of overly familiar music that delights most audiences and drugs most critics—
Time
Time4
: to add an illicit or intoxicating drug to (food or drink) usually surreptitiously
There's also very little violence in the movie. … The kidnapping is done by drugging the victim's drink.—Drew Zahn
Drew Zahn
: to take drugs especially for the intoxicating effect
drug
3 of 3dialectal past tense of drag
Synonyms
Examples of drug in a Sentence
Noun
a new drug used to treat people with high blood pressure
an experimental drug for the treatment of AIDS
Have you ever taken any illegal drugs?
I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs.
Verb
He looks like he's been drugged.
Someone could have drugged your drink.
Recent Examples on the WebKristen Fischer, Health, 31 May 2024
Dozens of young people who had been arrested for nonviolent crimes such as drug possession and theft had been given the chance to avoid jail time by attending a months-long rehabilitation course.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 24 May 2024
The claim said the deacon drugged and raped Miller approximately 185 times from February 1996, when the deacon introduced him to heroin, to about October 1996, when at 17, he was arrested for the first time for stealing to support his addiction.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for drug 
Noun
For instance, 65% of women under 60 were taking cholesterol-lowering drugs the week after their diagnosis.
—Kristen Fischer, Health, 31 May 2024
Dozens of young people who had been arrested for nonviolent crimes such as drug possession and theft had been given the chance to avoid jail time by attending a months-long rehabilitation course.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
Verb
After Maddy drugs him by spiking his beer, Gary puts a plastic bag over his head, suffocating him.
—Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 24 May 2024
The claim said the deacon drugged and raped Miller approximately 185 times from February 1996, when the deacon introduced him to heroin, to about October 1996, when at 17, he was arrested for the first time for stealing to support his addiction.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for drug
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near drug
Cite this Entry
“Drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drug. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drug
1 of 2 noun1
: a substance used as a medicine or in making medicines
2
: something for which there is no demand
—used in the phrase drug on the market
3
: a usually illegal substance (as heroin, LSD, or cocaine) that affects bodily activities often in a harmful way and is taken for other than medical reasons
drug
2 of 2 verb
drugged; drugging
1
: to affect or treat with a drug
especially
: to make dull or numb by a narcotic drug
2
: to lull or make dull or numb as if with a drug
Medical Definition
drug
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a substance used as a medication or in the preparation of medication
b
according to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(1)
: a substance recognized in an official pharmacopoeia or formulary
(2)
: a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
(3)
: a substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
(4)
: a substance intended for use as a component of a medicine but not a device or a component, part, or accessory of a device
2
: something and often an illicit substance that causes addiction, habituation, or a marked change in consciousness
drug
2 of 2 verb
drugged; drugging
1
: to affect (a person or animal) with a drug (see drug entry 1)
especially
: to stupefy (someone) by an intoxicating drug
2
: to administer a drug to (a person or animal)
: to take drugs especially for the intoxicating effect
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