hangover
noun
hang·over
ˈhaŋ-ˌō-vər 
1
: something (such as a surviving custom) that remains from what is past
2
a
: disagreeable physical effects following heavy consumption of alcohol or the use of drugs
b
: a letdown following great excitement or excess
Did you know?
The effects of hangovers have been hanging around for ages. The word itself, however, has only been fermenting since the late 19th century. Originally, hangover described someone or something that remained or simply survived, but it was later distilled into common use as a word for the effects of overconsumption of alcohol or drugs. These days, hangover can also suggest an emotional letdown or an undesirable prolongation of notes or sounds from a loudspeaker.
Examples of hangover in a Sentence
She woke up with a hangover.
Recent Examples on the Web
Plows were able to stay ahead of the accumulation, and the main roads were mostly clear, aided by a hangover of warm temperatures from Thursday.
—
Alan Gionet, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
These drips are positioned as a fast-track solution for everything from curing hangovers and boosting energy to improving skin clarity and strengthening the immune system.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
This is a region that has emerged over the past several years as one of the few growth engines for an industry struggling with softening demand from Chinese consumers and a broader post-pandemic hangover.
—Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 3 Mar. 2026
Vij arrives to her new post as the city’s cultural scene reckons with federal budget cuts to the arts, climbing costs, and the long hangover of the Covid-19 crisis.
—News Desk, Artforum, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hangover
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Alan Gionet, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
These drips are positioned as a fast-track solution for everything from curing hangovers and boosting energy to improving skin clarity and strengthening the immune system.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
This is a region that has emerged over the past several years as one of the few growth engines for an industry struggling with softening demand from Chinese consumers and a broader post-pandemic hangover.
—Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 3 Mar. 2026
Vij arrives to her new post as the city’s cultural scene reckons with federal budget cuts to the arts, climbing costs, and the long hangover of the Covid-19 crisis.
—News Desk, Artforum, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hangover
Cite this Entry
“Hangover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hangover. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hangover
noun
hang·over
ˈhaŋ-ˌō-vər
1
: something (as a surviving custom) that remains from what is past
2
: a sick uncomfortable state that comes from drinking too many drinks of alcoholic beverage
Medical Definition
hangover
noun
hang·over
-ˌō-vər
: disagreeable physical effects (as headache or nausea) following heavy consumption of alcohol or the use of drugs
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
