drug

1 of 3

noun

plural drugs
1
a
: a substance used as a medication or in the preparation of medication
b according to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(1)
: a substance recognized in an official pharmacopoeia or formulary (see formulary sense 3)
(2)
: a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
prescription drugs
drugs for treating high blood pressure
(3)
: a substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
(4)
: a substance intended for use as a component of a medicine but not a device or a component, part, or accessory of a device
2
: something and often an illegal substance that causes addiction, habituation (see habituation sense 2b), or a marked change in consciousness
keeping teens off drugs
heroin and other hard drugs
3
: a commodity that is not salable or for which there is no demand (see demand entry 1 sense 3a)
used in the phrase drug on the market
4
obsolete : a substance used in dyeing or chemical operations

drug

2 of 3

verb

drugged; drugging; drugs

transitive verb

1
: to affect (a person or animal) with a drug (see drug entry 1)
especially : to stupefy (someone) by an intoxicating drug
looks like he's been drugged
2
: to administer a drug to (a person or animal)
drugged against pain
3
: to lull or stupefy (someone) as if with a drug
… the kind of overly familiar music that delights most audiences and drugs most criticsTime
4
: to add an illicit or intoxicating drug to (food or drink) usually surreptitiously
There's also very little violence in the movie. … The kidnapping is done by drugging the victim's drink.Drew Zahn

intransitive verb

: to take drugs especially for the intoxicating effect

drug

3 of 3

dialectal past tense of drag entry 1

Examples of drug in a Sentence

Noun a new drug used to treat people with high blood pressure an experimental drug for the treatment of AIDS Have you ever taken any illegal drugs? I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. Verb He looks like he's been drugged. Someone could have drugged your drink.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In less than two years, the Fillmore East itself would close, and CSNY would implode due to personality conflicts, drugs, and the demands of their solo careers. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2024 According to the 2021 lawsuit, Walmart allegedly disposed of aerosols cans, spray paints, rust removers, bleach, pesticides and over-the-counter drugs in regular trash bins, which are not permitted to receive such waste products. Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
During their conversation, David recounted that Allen was crying and confessed to drugging him and molesting his sister, Connie. Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 The eldest Seawater recalled the conversation in This Is the Zodiac Speaking, sharing that Allen admitted to drugging him and Connie in Riverside and molesting his younger sister. Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for drug 

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

Middle English drogge

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1667, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of drug was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near drug

Cite this Entry

“Drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drug. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

drug

1 of 2 noun
1
: a substance used as a medicine or in making medicines
2
: something for which there is no demand
used in the phrase drug on the market
3
: a usually illegal substance (as heroin, LSD, or cocaine) that affects bodily activities often in a harmful way and is taken for other than medical reasons

drug

2 of 2 verb
drugged; drugging
1
: to affect or treat with a drug
especially : to make dull or numb by a narcotic drug
2
: to lull or make dull or numb as if with a drug

Medical Definition

drug

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a substance used as a medication or in the preparation of medication
b according to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(1)
: a substance recognized in an official pharmacopoeia or formulary
(2)
: a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
(3)
: a substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
(4)
: a substance intended for use as a component of a medicine but not a device or a component, part, or accessory of a device
2
: something and often an illicit substance that causes addiction, habituation, or a marked change in consciousness

drug

2 of 2 verb
drugged; drugging

transitive verb

1
: to affect (a person or animal) with a drug (see drug entry 1)
especially : to stupefy (someone) by an intoxicating drug
2
: to administer a drug to (a person or animal)

intransitive verb

: to take drugs especially for the intoxicating effect

More from Merriam-Webster on drug

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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