overdose

[ noun oh-ver-dohs; verb oh-ver-dohs, oh-ver-dohs ]

noun

, o·ver·dosed, o·ver·dos·ing.

1. OD.

overdose

noun

1. (esp of drugs) an excessive dose

verb

1. to take an excessive dose or give an excessive dose to

Derived Forms

• ˌoverˈdosage, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overdose¹

First recorded in 1680–90; over- + dose

Example Sentences

Today it is known more for rampant drug use and homelessness, needles strewn on the ground and overdose deaths from fentanyl and other narcotics in the park and nearby alleys.

From Los Angeles Times

The nationwide opioid crisis continues to plague California — even as individual counties record a plateau in deaths related to drug overdoses.

From Los Angeles Times

Animals go to their shelter, humans have a siesta, even plants have mechanisms to avoid an overdose of light.

From Science Daily

At this point, the scale of ketamine misuse hardly compares to the opioid overdose crisis, which kills tens of thousands of Americans every year.

From Salon

Although still an extremely high number, roughly killing as many Americans per year as diabetes, the overdose crisis is set to kill fewer than 100,000 Americans this year for the first time since 2020.

From Salon

Related Words

• gratify
• indulge
• nauseate
• sate
• slake