sports drink

noun

: a drink that consists mainly of water, electrolytes (such as sodium or potassium), and carbohydrates (such as sucrose or fructose) and that is designed to replenish those substances in the body during or after usually strenuous exercise

"Dan was with me the whole day," Huard said after the game, while sipping a sports drink to combat dehydration.

—Peter King

Sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade should generally be avoided in favor of water unless you're doing an intense workout. That's because some sports drinks contain more than 30 grams of added sugar …, and you may not need its carb- and electrolyte-heavy fuel if you're just going for a 45-minute easy ride.

—Danielle Zickl

Examples of sports drink in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In place of a sports drink, try opting for natural, electrolyte-rich alternatives like coconut water, fruit and vegetable juices, and bone broth, says Crane. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2025

Water is ideal for hydration, and avoiding sports drinks is best unless your provider recommends them. —Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 2 Jan. 2025

Mock-ups of the front-of-package nutrition information box on a sports drink bottle and cheese crackers box. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2025

Along with Amazon gift cards, the company has given water, sports drinks, juice for kids, and snacks and 5,000 shelter items (including shower chairs and toddler beds. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above