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
Anthony Hennen | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Sep. 2024
Since Proposition 47’s passage, the fentanyl epidemic exploded, participation in drug courts plummeted and overdose deaths have skyrocketed to shocking levels as fentanyl and other dangerous drugs are sold — often openly — on our streets.
—Matt Mahan, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2024
Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024
The pop culture icon died at the home after overdosing on barbiturates.
—Cindy Vonquednow, CNN, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for overdose 
Noun
Public health data has picked up on a national decline in overdose deaths, almost 11%.
—Anthony Hennen | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Sep. 2024
Since Proposition 47’s passage, the fentanyl epidemic exploded, participation in drug courts plummeted and overdose deaths have skyrocketed to shocking levels as fentanyl and other dangerous drugs are sold — often openly — on our streets.
—Matt Mahan, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2024
Verb
And in a crucial Senate race in Pennsylvania, Republican Dave McCormick recently criticized incumbent Sen. Bob Casey for failing to address the crisis in an ad that quoted a local sheriff whose son fatally overdosed in 2020.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024
The pop culture icon died at the home after overdosing on barbiturates.
—Cindy Vonquednow, CNN, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for overdose
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overdose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near overdose
Cite this Entry
“Overdose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdose. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
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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