dopamine

noun

do·​pa·​mine ˈdō-pə-ˌmēn 

: a monoamine C₈H₁₁NO₂ that is a decarboxylated form of dopa and that occurs especially as a neurotransmitter in the brain

Examples of dopamine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It has long been recognized that just as taking cocaine can trigger a dopamine rush, so too can video games and gambling. — Jonathan Caulkins, The Conversation, 17 July 2026

Vitamin B6 is essential for the production of serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 14 July 2026

Unmarried young men lead the rest of the population in sedentary, solo leisure time (a metric that gets at hours spent chasing dopamine hits in front of a screen). — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Kate Middleton embraced dopamine dressing during a 2026 Wimbledon Championships appearance on July 11. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 11 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

dopa + amine

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dopamine

• acridine
• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene

Medical Definition

dopamine

noun

do·​pa·​mine ˈdō-pə-ˌmēn 

: a monoamine C₈H₁₁NO₂ that is a decarboxylated form of dopa and occurs especially as a neurotransmitter in the brain and as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of epinephrine see intropin