hangover
noun
hang·over
ˈhaŋ-ˌō-vər 
1
: something (such as a surviving custom) that remains from what is past
2
a
: disagreeable physical effects following heavy consumption of alcohol or the use of drugs
b
: a letdown following great excitement or excess
Did you know?
The effects of hangovers have been hanging around for ages. The word itself, however, has only been fermenting since the late 19th century. Originally, hangover described someone or something that remained or simply survived, but it was later distilled into common use as a word for the effects of overconsumption of alcohol or drugs. These days, hangover can also suggest an emotional letdown or an undesirable prolongation of notes or sounds from a loudspeaker.
Examples of hangover in a Sentence
She woke up with a hangover.
Recent Examples on the Web
So there are a lot of nights that end with some big hangovers the next day, and these nights can go until the sun comes up.
—
Degen Pener, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
From contemporary California villas to charming homes in the Tuscan countryside, these spots will make waking up with a hangover feel a lot more worldly.
—Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 23 Mar. 2026
The team were meek in defeat, but after a weekend carousing and communing in central London, Newcastle fans arrived at Wembley with a collective hangover.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The Vietnamese staple’s light but perfectly salty broth, tender slices of flank beef, and crisp bean sprouts and cilantro, along with a generous squeeze of lime and sriracha, does wonders to perk me up from a bad hangover—or a cold, a flu or really any ailment.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hangover
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Degen Pener, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
From contemporary California villas to charming homes in the Tuscan countryside, these spots will make waking up with a hangover feel a lot more worldly.
—Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 23 Mar. 2026
The team were meek in defeat, but after a weekend carousing and communing in central London, Newcastle fans arrived at Wembley with a collective hangover.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The Vietnamese staple’s light but perfectly salty broth, tender slices of flank beef, and crisp bean sprouts and cilantro, along with a generous squeeze of lime and sriracha, does wonders to perk me up from a bad hangover—or a cold, a flu or really any ailment.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hangover
Cite this Entry
“Hangover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hangover. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hangover
noun
hang·over
ˈhaŋ-ˌō-vər
1
: something (as a surviving custom) that remains from what is past
2
: a sick uncomfortable state that comes from drinking too many drinks of alcoholic beverage
Medical Definition
hangover
noun
hang·over
-ˌō-vər
: disagreeable physical effects (as headache or nausea) following heavy consumption of alcohol or the use of drugs
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