overdose

1 of 2

noun

over·​dose ˈō-vər-ˌdōs How to pronounce overdose (audio)
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
overdosage noun

overdose

2 of 2

verb

over·​dose ˌō-vər-ˈdōs How to pronounce overdose (audio)
overdosed; overdosing; overdoses

transitive verb

: to give an overdose or too many doses to

intransitive verb

: 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
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
Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez died of an accidental drug overdose on July 2, 2023. Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025 McIver, Baretto and Epperson allegedly supplied the drugs that led to De Niro Rodriguez's overdose. Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Akira overdosed twice on pills allegedly sold to her by John and Roy, the court docs stated. Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025 But Crowe was set on nailing one particular scene, where Hudson’s character, the groupie Penny Lane, attempts suicide by overdosing on quaaludes. Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overdose

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1700, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of overdose was in 1700

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overdose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdose. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

overdose

1 of 2 noun
over·​dose ˈō-vər-ˌdōs How to pronounce overdose (audio)
: too great a dose
overdosage noun

overdose

2 of 2 verb
over·​dose ˌō-vər-ˈdōs How to pronounce overdose (audio)
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 How to pronounce overdose (audio)
: too great a dose (as of a therapeutic agent)
an overdose of exposure to the sunMorris Fishbein
also : a lethal or toxic amount (as of a drug)

overdose

2 of 2 verb
over·​dose ˌō-vər-ˈdōs How to pronounce overdose (audio)
overdosed; overdosing

transitive verb

: to give an overdose or too many doses to

intransitive verb

: to take or experience an overdose
usually used with on

More from Merriam-Webster on overdose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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