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

Parkinson’s disease is marked by a loss of neurons that make dopamine, a chemical messenger involved in movement and coordination. —Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 9 May 2025

Your brain releases dopamine and the cycle continues. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

Establishing that the amygdala neurons react to dopamine as fears are encoded and extinguished, the researchers discovered that Rspo2 neurons are more responsive during fear encoding, while Ppp1r1b neurons have stronger responses to dopamine during fear extinction. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025

Every time someone reacts or replies to a Reel, Instagram notifies the group to keep the dopamine flowing and the conversation going. —Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025

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