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

Dehydration also interferes with how your brain uses dopamine and serotonin—the chemical messengers that help regulate mood, focus, and motivation. —Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2026

Substance use disorders are the result of ever-growing demand for dopamine stimulation in patients’ brains. —Sterling Elliott, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026

And Accor notes the trend for ‘hyper playgrounds,’ the search for dopamine hits for the inner child, such as dining on a restaurant platform in Dubai, 50 meters above the ground. —Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

We’re all slightly dizzied by this dopamine of social-media traction and losing sight of the effects of it. —Tim Spiers, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

dopa + amine

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dopamine

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

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