1
a
: the measured quantity of a therapeutic agent to be taken at one time
b
: the quantity of radiation administered or absorbed
2
: a portion of a substance added during a process
3
: an amount of something likened to a prescribed or measured quantity of medicine
a daily dose of hard work
a dose of scandal
4
: a gonorrheal infection
dosed; dosing
1
: to give a dose to
especially
: to give medicine to
2
: to divide into doses
dose a medicine
3
: to treat with an application or agent
Examples of dose in a Sentence
Noun
I've been taking the same dose for five years.
a large dose of vitamin C
The drug is lethal even in small doses.
a large dose of sugar
a high dose of radiation
Her parents hoped a daily dose of hard work would keep her out of trouble.
He needs a good dose of reality.
Verb
Most patients are dosed at 50 milligrams per day.
Recent Examples on the Web
Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025
The Johns Hopkins University-USA TODAY data is based on county-level vaccination compliance among kindergarteners — and, in a few cases, K–6 or K–12 students — covering either MMR vaccinations or all doses required for school enrollment.
—Suhail Bhat, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 25 Sep. 2025
Administer the first hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth, for all infants, regardless of maternal status.
—Fiona Ma, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dose
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
For apple cider vinegar, the daily dose is 1-2 ounces.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025
The Johns Hopkins University-USA TODAY data is based on county-level vaccination compliance among kindergarteners — and, in a few cases, K–6 or K–12 students — covering either MMR vaccinations or all doses required for school enrollment.
—Suhail Bhat, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
Its high-end features are hard to beat, like its customizable conical burr grinder and intelligent dosing system to automatically calculate the amount of ground coffee based on your last grind and tamp.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 25 Sep. 2025
Administer the first hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth, for all infants, regardless of maternal status.
—Fiona Ma, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dose
Cite this Entry
“Dose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dose. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dose
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the measured amount of a medicine to be taken at one time
b
: the quantity of radiation given or absorbed
2
: a portion of a substance added during a process
3
: an experience to which one is exposed
a dose of hard work
dose
2 of 2 verb
dosed; dosing
1
: to give medicine to
2
: to treat with something
Medical Definition
dose
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the measured quantity of a therapeutic agent to be taken at one time
b
: the quantity of radiation administered or absorbed
2
: a gonorrheal infection
dose
2 of 2 verb
dosed; dosing
1
: to divide (as a medicine) into doses
2
: to give a dose to
especially
: to give medicine to
3
: to treat with an application or agent
: to take medicine
he is forever dosing but he gets worse
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