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
Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
Under his leadership, the office has become a state leader for its use of red-flag laws and championed the escalation of charges against reputed fentanyl dealers linked to fatal overdoses and parents whose neglect is alleged to have caused a child’s death.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026
Six of the women died from complications of plastic surgery, according to medical examiner and coroner records, and two other patients overdosed on pain medication at home after undergoing their procedures.
—Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for overdose
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Noun
McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, died after Aurora police put him in a neck hold and a paramedic injected him with an overdose of sedative ketamine.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
Under his leadership, the office has become a state leader for its use of red-flag laws and championed the escalation of charges against reputed fentanyl dealers linked to fatal overdoses and parents whose neglect is alleged to have caused a child’s death.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Verb
In one incident, a cooperating witness testifying in a shooting was allegedly ambushed by gang members and made to choose between overdosing on fentanyl and being shot, an incident corroborated by witnesses including a nine-year-old girl.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026
Six of the women died from complications of plastic surgery, according to medical examiner and coroner records, and two other patients overdosed on pain medication at home after undergoing their procedures.
—Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 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 13 Jun. 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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