over·dose
ˈō-vər-ˌdōs 
1
: too great a dose (as of a therapeutic agent)
also
: a lethal or toxic amount (as of a drug)
2
: an excessive quantity or amount
an overdose of fun
over·dose
ˌō-vər-ˈdōs
overdosed; overdosing; overdoses
: to give an overdose or too many doses to
: to take or experience an overdose
—usually used with on
Examples of overdose in a Sentence
Noun
She died from a cocaine overdose.
Recent Examples on the Web
Austen Erblat, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
After an overdose on the streets of Los Angeles in December, Andy Dick is coming clean.
—Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
When Lubbock police stopped that vehicle for a traffic violation, officers found that a passenger in the back seat was overdosing on the fentanyl supplied by Red-Eagle.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overdose
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.
Noun
Almost three years after a Colorado woman died of a drug overdose in her Fort Collins home, one of the suspects, who pleaded guilty to selling fentanyl, has been sentenced.
—Austen Erblat, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
After an overdose on the streets of Los Angeles in December, Andy Dick is coming clean.
—Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
Fearing the suspect could be overdosing, Cano had administered Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses the effects of opioids.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
When Lubbock police stopped that vehicle for a traffic violation, officers found that a passenger in the back seat was overdosing on the fentanyl supplied by Red-Eagle.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overdose
Cite this Entry
“Overdose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdose. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overdose
2 of 2 verb
over·dose
ˌō-vər-ˈdōs
1
: to give an overdose or too many doses to
2
: to take or experience an overdose
overdosed on heroin
Medical Definition
overdose
1 of 2 noun
over·dose
ˈō-vər-ˌdōs
: too great a dose (as of a therapeutic agent)
an overdose of exposure to the sun—Morris Fishbein
Morris Fishbein
also
: a lethal or toxic amount (as of a drug)
overdose
2 of 2 verb
over·dose
ˌō-vər-ˈdōs
overdosed; overdosing
: to give an overdose or too many doses to
: to take or experience an overdose
—usually used with on
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
