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
Jim Beaugez, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Without drug overdose tracking, naloxone can’t be deployed to the ZIP codes where people are dying fastest.
—Robert B. Shpiner, STAT, 13 Feb. 2026
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
The Placer County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday that Brandon Garner's conviction stemmed from the death of a local man who overdosed after allegedly receiving fentanyl from Garner.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overdose
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Noun
Around the same time, in 2016, guitarist and co-founder Matt Roberts, who stepped away from 3 Doors Down in 2012 citing health issues, died of an accidental drug overdose before a performance in Wisconsin.
—Jim Beaugez, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Without drug overdose tracking, naloxone can’t be deployed to the ZIP codes where people are dying fastest.
—Robert B. Shpiner, STAT, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
Three of the individuals who died in the cold were found to have likely overdosed, officials said, with 13 others determined to have died partly due to hypothermia.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
The Placer County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday that Brandon Garner's conviction stemmed from the death of a local man who overdosed after allegedly receiving fentanyl from Garner.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 3 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 17 Feb. 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
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