plural drugs
1
a
: a substance used as a medication or in the preparation of medication
b
according to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(1)
: a substance recognized in an official pharmacopoeia or formulary (see formulary sense 3)
(2)
: a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
prescription drugs
drugs for treating high blood pressure
(3)
: a substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
(4)
: a substance intended for use as a component of a medicine but not a device or a component, part, or accessory of a device
2
: something and often an illegal substance that causes addiction, habituation (see habituation sense 2b), or a marked change in consciousness
keeping teens off drugs
heroin and other hard drugs
3
: a commodity that is not salable or for which there is no demand (see demand entry 1 sense 3a)
—used in the phrase drug on the market
4
obsolete
: a substance used in dyeing or chemical operations
drugged; drugging; drugs
1
: to affect (a person or animal) with a drug (see drug entry 1)
2
: to administer a drug to (a person or animal)
drugged against pain
3
: to lull or stupefy (someone) as if with a drug
… the kind of overly familiar music that delights most audiences and drugs most critics—
Time
Time4
: to add an illicit or intoxicating drug to (food or drink) usually surreptitiously
There's also very little violence in the movie. … The kidnapping is done by drugging the victim's drink.—Drew Zahn
Drew Zahn
: to take drugs especially for the intoxicating effect
drug
3 of 3dialectal past tense of drag
Synonyms
Examples of drug in a Sentence
Noun
a new drug used to treat people with high blood pressure
an experimental drug for the treatment of AIDS
Have you ever taken any illegal drugs?
I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs.
Verb
He looks like he's been drugged.
Someone could have drugged your drink.
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Recent Examples on the WebKeri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2023
Voters' opinions probably are being informed by partisanship, media portrayals -- including an increase in neighborhood websites and email listservs -- and factors such as public homelessness, drug use, shoplifting and other signs of disorder, policy and political experts said.
—Noah Bierman Los Angeles Times (tns), Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2023
There is, of course, the more wild side to Burning Man that the festival has become well-known for: the parties, drugs, music and oversized art installations.
—Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2023
In one case, the drug may have been on the hands of a parent who prepared the baby’s bottle.
—Olga R. Rodriguez, Fortune Well, 8 Sep. 2023
What most Burners know — and what’s probably lost to the outside world amid the hyperbole of drug use and dusty dancing — is that the event is a major test of self-reliance.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2023
The Oregon Department of Corrections is unable to say exactly how many prisoners overdose on street drugs each year even as the state confronts soaring drug use behind bars.
—oregonlive, 8 Sep. 2023
Masterson’s use of drugs to incapacitate his accusers played a prominent role in the case.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023
More than 760,000 people have died from a drug overdose since 1999, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 28 Aug. 2023
Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023
Many of them were gay men being drugged and robbed, in a series of disturbing incidents that began two years ago.
—Steve Osunsami, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2023
They are all named as defendants in the pending lawsuit, which alleges Haskins was drugged and robbed by a man and three women but does not make clear where.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2023
He was ultimately tried for raping and drugging nine women, in addition to Lucie, between 1992 and 2000.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 1 Aug. 2023
Four other women had accused Flores of drugging and raping them in the past.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
He was accused of drugging and raping a female acquaintance -- identified as Apartment Victim 1 by prosecutors -- at his home in Queens.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2023
Officials said that Zuberi may have used several methods to target victims, including drugging drinks and impersonating a police officer.
—Ken Dilanian, NBC News, 8 Aug. 2023
After Woodruff was identified as a potential suspect, the carjacking victim, who according to police may have been drugged at the time of the robbery, picked Woodruff from an array of six photos.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023
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Noun
The drug works to reverse overdoses by binding to the body’s opioid receptors and blocking other opioids such as heroin or fentanyl.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2023
Voters' opinions probably are being informed by partisanship, media portrayals -- including an increase in neighborhood websites and email listservs -- and factors such as public homelessness, drug use, shoplifting and other signs of disorder, policy and political experts said.
—Noah Bierman Los Angeles Times (tns), Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2023
There is, of course, the more wild side to Burning Man that the festival has become well-known for: the parties, drugs, music and oversized art installations.
—Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2023
In one case, the drug may have been on the hands of a parent who prepared the baby’s bottle.
—Olga R. Rodriguez, Fortune Well, 8 Sep. 2023
What most Burners know — and what’s probably lost to the outside world amid the hyperbole of drug use and dusty dancing — is that the event is a major test of self-reliance.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2023
The Oregon Department of Corrections is unable to say exactly how many prisoners overdose on street drugs each year even as the state confronts soaring drug use behind bars.
—oregonlive, 8 Sep. 2023
Masterson’s use of drugs to incapacitate his accusers played a prominent role in the case.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023
More than 760,000 people have died from a drug overdose since 1999, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 28 Aug. 2023
Verb
The Long Beach Police Department has received an average of 25 reports annually the last three years from people who believe they have been drugged by a spiked drink, the Long Beach Post reported.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023
Many of them were gay men being drugged and robbed, in a series of disturbing incidents that began two years ago.
—Steve Osunsami, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2023
They are all named as defendants in the pending lawsuit, which alleges Haskins was drugged and robbed by a man and three women but does not make clear where.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2023
He was ultimately tried for raping and drugging nine women, in addition to Lucie, between 1992 and 2000.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 1 Aug. 2023
Four other women had accused Flores of drugging and raping them in the past.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
He was accused of drugging and raping a female acquaintance -- identified as Apartment Victim 1 by prosecutors -- at his home in Queens.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2023
Officials said that Zuberi may have used several methods to target victims, including drugging drinks and impersonating a police officer.
—Ken Dilanian, NBC News, 8 Aug. 2023
After Woodruff was identified as a potential suspect, the carjacking victim, who according to police may have been drugged at the time of the robbery, picked Woodruff from an array of six photos.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English drogge
First Known Use
Noun
1611, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Verb
1667, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Phrases Containing drug
Articles Related to drug
Dictionary Entries Near drug
Cite this Entry
“Drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drug. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
drug
1 of 2 noun1
: a substance used as a medicine or in making medicines
2
: something for which there is no demand
—used in the phrase drug on the market
3
: a usually illegal substance (as heroin, LSD, or cocaine) that affects bodily activities often in a harmful way and is taken for other than medical reasons
drug
2 of 2 verb
drugged; drugging
1
: to affect or treat with a drug
especially
: to make dull or numb by a narcotic drug
2
: to lull or make dull or numb as if with a drug
Medical Definition
drug
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a substance used as a medication or in the preparation of medication
b
according to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(1)
: a substance recognized in an official pharmacopoeia or formulary
(2)
: a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
(3)
: a substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
(4)
: a substance intended for use as a component of a medicine but not a device or a component, part, or accessory of a device
2
: something and often an illicit substance that causes addiction, habituation, or a marked change in consciousness
drug
2 of 2 verb
drugged; drugging
1
: to affect (a person or animal) with a drug (see drug entry 1)
especially
: to stupefy (someone) by an intoxicating drug
2
: to administer a drug to (a person or animal)
: to take drugs especially for the intoxicating effect
More from Merriam-Webster on drug
Nglish: Translation of drug for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of drug for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about drug
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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