drunk

adjective

ˈdrəŋk 

1

a

: having the faculties impaired by alcohol

b

: having a level of alcohol in the blood that exceeds a maximum prescribed by law

legally drunk

2

: dominated by an intense feeling

drunk with rage

3

: relating to, caused by, or characterized by intoxication : drunken

drunk driving

Synonyms of drunk

• drunken
• impaired
• fried
• wet
• blind
• wasted
• bombed
• plastered

Examples of drunk in a Sentence

I don't like being around drunk people.

She was so drunk that she could barely walk.

I was drunk and couldn't think straight.

We got drunk on wine.

Recent Examples on the Web

Always elegantly attired, always thirsty, never drunk. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

Opinion The federal government is drunk on power. —Jarrett Dieterle, Washington Post, 3 June 2026

That’s when two drunk teen girls attacked her. —Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026

And was he suspended by the Polish national team for being drunk during a Ruch match? —Tim Spiers, New York Times, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English drunke, alteration of drunken

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing drunk

• (as) drunk as a lord
• (as) drunk as a skunk
• blind drunk
• drunk driver
• drunk driving
• drunk tank
• punch-drunk
• punch-drunk syndrome
• roaring drunk
• stinking drunk

Rhymes for drunk

• bunk
• chunk
• clunk
• dunk
• hunk
• junk
• punk
• shrunk
• slunk
• spunk
• sunk
• trunk

Kids Definition

drunk

1 of 3

past participle of drink

drunk

2 of 3 adjective

ˈdrəŋk 

1

: having consumed alcohol to the point that normal thinking or acting becomes difficult or impossible

2

: controlled by some feeling as if under the influence of alcohol

drunk with power

3

a

: drunken sense 2a

b

: occurring while drunk

drunk driving

drunk

3 of 3 noun

1

a

: a person who is drunk

b

: drunkard

2

: a period of drinking too much : spree

Medical Definition

drunk

1 of 3

past part of drink

drunk

2 of 3 adjective

ˈdrəŋk 

1

: having the faculties impaired by alcohol

2

: of, relating to, or caused by intoxication : drunken

convicted of drunk driving

—Time

drunk

3 of 3 noun

1

: a period of drinking to intoxication or of being intoxicated

2

: one who is drunk

especially : drunkard