drunk

1 of 3
Synonyms of drunknext

past participle of drink

drunk

2 of 3

adjective

1
a
: having the faculties impaired by alcohol
b
: having a level of alcohol in the blood that exceeds a maximum prescribed by law
legally drunk
2
: dominated by an intense feeling
drunk with rage
3
: relating to, caused by, or characterized by intoxication : drunken
drunk driving

drunk

3 of 3

noun

1
: a period of drinking to intoxication or of being intoxicated
a 2-day drunk
2
: one who is drunk
especially : drunkard

Examples of drunk in a Sentence

Adjective I don't like being around drunk people. She was so drunk that she could barely walk. I was drunk and couldn't think straight. We got drunk on wine. Noun you can't trust anything that old drunk says after a weeklong drunk he was unable to remember anything
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Noël Coward’s writing for drunk is exceptional. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026 Anything other than sitting in front of a camera and getting peppered by angry Wildcats fans drunk on bourbon and filled with disappointment. Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Noun
Portraits of him as a cheating drunk, who was unfaithful to his first wife, Julia Nye, also surfaced. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2026 And though the local history museum is nothing but artifacts of atrocities (old newspaper report of cannibalism, a murderer’s mask), only Wyck (Stephen Root, great as always) sees anything paranormal in it, and he’s generally written off as a drunk. Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drunk

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English drunke, alteration of drunken

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1779, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drunk was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drunk. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

drunk

1 of 3

past participle of drink

drunk

2 of 3 adjective
1
: having consumed alcohol to the point that normal thinking or acting becomes difficult or impossible
2
: controlled by some feeling as if under the influence of alcohol
drunk with power
3
b
: occurring while drunk
drunk driving

drunk

3 of 3 noun
1
a
: a person who is drunk
b
2
: a period of drinking too much : spree

Medical Definition

drunk

1 of 3

past part of drink

drunk

2 of 3 adjective
1
: having the faculties impaired by alcohol
2
: of, relating to, or caused by intoxication : drunken
convicted of drunk drivingTime

drunk

3 of 3 noun
1
: a period of drinking to intoxication or of being intoxicated
2
: one who is drunk
especially : drunkard

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