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
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
The Emmy-winning actor, 37, has been cast to play Farley, who died of a drug overdose in December 1997 at age 33, in a movie that will be actor Josh Gad's directorial debut, according to Variety and Deadline.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
More than 110,000 people in the U.S. are believed to have died from drug overdoses in the past 12 months, according to provisional data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Aponte was taken to a hospital in critical condition suffering from a possible drug overdose, police wrote in a news release.
—USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
The toddler’s father was transported to an area hospital in critical condition due to a possible drug overdose, police said.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
Cantor died of a heroin overdose in 1991 at the age of 32.
—EW.com, 30 Mar. 2024
We are also focused on mental health and reducing suicides and overdoses, as well as supporting young families.
—Rhett Buttle, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
What if a grandmother had a heart attack or a kid drowned while his team was on an overdose call?
—Lauren Peace, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
During the festival, a Sugar Creek police officer heard radio traffic about a man who had overdosed.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
Don't worry, dogs and humans alike cannot overdose on CBD, but taking too much can sometimes cause drowsiness or an upset stomach.
—Holistapet, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
End Overdose The organization provides training and tools to treat people who overdose and prevent death through education, medical intervention and public awareness.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Department records show more than 500 people have overdosed in local jails since 2021, including at least 15 this year.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
The group also continued, with partners, a program in Lower, East and West Price Hill to reach and provide services to people who had overdosed most frequently.
—The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024
When someone overdoses from fentanyl, breathing slows and their skin often turns a bluish hue.
—Mike Baker, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
And for somebody who already uses opioids, overdosing from buprenorphine is nearly impossible.
—Lauren Peace, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Noun
Prior to his death, attributed to a drug overdose, the comedian and actor was in talks to voice the titular character in Shrek.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
The Emmy-winning actor, 37, has been cast to play Farley, who died of a drug overdose in December 1997 at age 33, in a movie that will be actor Josh Gad's directorial debut, according to Variety and Deadline.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
More than 110,000 people in the U.S. are believed to have died from drug overdoses in the past 12 months, according to provisional data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Aponte was taken to a hospital in critical condition suffering from a possible drug overdose, police wrote in a news release.
—USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
The toddler’s father was transported to an area hospital in critical condition due to a possible drug overdose, police said.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
Cantor died of a heroin overdose in 1991 at the age of 32.
—EW.com, 30 Mar. 2024
We are also focused on mental health and reducing suicides and overdoses, as well as supporting young families.
—Rhett Buttle, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
What if a grandmother had a heart attack or a kid drowned while his team was on an overdose call?
—Lauren Peace, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
Fort Worth police responded to the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program school on Sanguinet Street at about 9 a.m. Monday regarding a teenage boy who had possibly overdosed on a school bus and was not breathing.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
During the festival, a Sugar Creek police officer heard radio traffic about a man who had overdosed.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
Don't worry, dogs and humans alike cannot overdose on CBD, but taking too much can sometimes cause drowsiness or an upset stomach.
—Holistapet, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
End Overdose The organization provides training and tools to treat people who overdose and prevent death through education, medical intervention and public awareness.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Department records show more than 500 people have overdosed in local jails since 2021, including at least 15 this year.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
The group also continued, with partners, a program in Lower, East and West Price Hill to reach and provide services to people who had overdosed most frequently.
—The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024
When someone overdoses from fentanyl, breathing slows and their skin often turns a bluish hue.
—Mike Baker, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
And for somebody who already uses opioids, overdosing from buprenorphine is nearly impossible.
—Lauren Peace, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overdose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near overdose
Cite this Entry
“Overdose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdose. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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