liquor

1 of 2

noun

li·​quor ˈli-kər How to pronounce liquor (audio)
: a liquid substance: such as
a
: a usually distilled rather than fermented alcoholic beverage
b
: a watery solution of a drug

liquor

2 of 2

verb

liquored; liquoring ˈli-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce liquor (audio)

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

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
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The agency is investigating allegations that an alcohol policy implemented by the Delhi government in 2022, which ended its control over the sale of liquor in the capital, gave undue advantages to private retailers, according to Reuters. Sania Farooqui, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 Underage purchasers lying on age affirmations is no different than using fake IDs at liquor stores, said Aidan Johnston, director of federal affairs at the Gun Owners of America. Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 As mentioned before, Knob Creek x Rock The Bells is a limited release and is only available at a few select liquor stores in New York City at the moment. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024 On the table next to the chair were several items, including two small bottles of liquor, a pack of cigarettes and his ticket. William Earl, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 But that changed last year, when one of Oakland’s more upscale enclaves suffered a string of retail break-ins and armed robberies and, most spectacularly, a series of full-frontal assaults on a neighborhood liquor store. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 In another scene, the same manager confronts her over empty liquor bottles found in her apartment. Chloe Melas, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 In the midst of a cocktails boom, and with thousands of liquors world wide trying to set themselves apart, brands are knocking down Hollywood doors in search of star power. Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Just: organic chocolate liquor, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, and organic vanilla extract. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
This might be a vestige of his childhood, which was spent in a home with a teetotaling mother and a father who was raised hell-fire-and-brimstone Southern Baptist, but despite his general indifference to liquor, my dad has always kept a bottle of George Dickel in our pantry. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 25 July 2023 Nearly half of the country bans liquor sales on Christmas Day, according to VinePair, a cocktail culture website. Dallas News, 21 Dec. 2022 Since the pandemic began, bars and other premises selling alcohol have been hit hard by Covid-19 restrictions, causing sales -- and liquor tax revenues -- to plummet in the world's third-largest economy. Jessie Yeung, CNN, 18 Aug. 2022 Luxury goods was a rare outperformer led by Hong Kong listed Prada +2.65% while online education, solar, semis, auto, and liquor sub-sectors were among the worst. Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 The state’s new rules do not make changes to liquor sales. Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Oct. 2021 The card that millions of people use to prove their identity to everyone from police officers to liquor store owners may soon be a thing of the past as a growing number of states develop digital driver's licenses. The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 May 2021 The card that millions of people use to prove their identity to everyone from police officers to liquor store owners may soon be a thing of the past as a growing number of states develop digital driver’s licenses. al, 8 May 2021 Chinese investors noted that a large European China mutual fund is increasing its exposure to liquor stock Kweichow Moutai. Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 16 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'liquor.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of liquor was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near liquor

Cite this Entry

“Liquor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liquor. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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 How to pronounce liquor (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on liquor

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