liquor

1 of 3

noun

li·​quor ˈli-kər 

: a liquid substance: such as

a

: a usually distilled rather than fermented alcoholic beverage

b

: a watery solution of a drug

c

: bath sense 2b(1)

liquor

2 of 3

verb

liquored; liquoring ˈli-k(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to dress (something, such as leather) with oil or grease

2

: to make drunk with alcoholic liquor

—usually used with up

intransitive verb

: to drink alcoholic liquor especially to excess

—usually used with up

liquored up

3 of 3

adjective

variants or less commonly liquored

: drunk

a liquored up lumberjack, returning from a spree

—H. J. Barnes

Synonyms of liquor

Noun

• alcohol
• booze
• drink
• rum
• bottle

Verb

• drink
• lush (up)
• booze

Examples of liquor in a Sentence

Noun

He drinks beer and wine, but he doesn't drink any hard liquor.

vodka, whiskey, and other liquors

Verb

the men liquored up at the roadhouse and then thought it would be a good idea to go hunting

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Found was selected to advance its Direct Feedstock Extraction technology, a continuous electrochemical process designed to recover gallium directly from dilute liquors. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026

Though council members did not explain their votes on the liquor license, besides Hill, Smith and Ridriguez, five additional members of the public spoke in favor of the restaurant’s request during audience time. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Verb

The highway span was the exact ground covered last year by Sunshine Perez, who had made two trips to liquor stores to buy Patron tequila before driving the wrong way onto a Turnpike exit ramp. — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Contestants are limited to one drink per night, and that drink can only be wine, prosecco or beer — not liquor. — Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English licour, from Anglo-French, from Latin liquor, from liquēre

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1502, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing liquor

• hold one's liquor
• malt liquor
• pot liquor

Rhymes for liquor

• bicker
• dicker
• flicker
• kicker
• picker
• quicker
• ricker
• sicker
• slicker
• snicker
• sticker
• thicker

Kids Definition

liquor

noun

li·​quor

ˈlik-ər

1

: a liquid substance or solution

dye liquor

2

: a strong alcoholic beverage

Medical Definition

liquor

noun

li·​quor ˈlik-ər 

: a liquid substance: as

a

: a usually distilled rather than fermented alcoholic beverage

b

: a solution of a medicinal substance usually in water compare tincture

c

: bath sense 2b(1)