drunk

Formsdrunker, drunkest

Pluraldrunks

1. 1
   adjective

   Mentally or physically impaired by drinking too much alcohol, either on a particular occasion or habitually.

   The guests grew loud and drunk as the party wore on.

   He was so drunk that he could barely find his own front door.

   UsageUsually after be or get: get drunk. Before a noun, drunken is also common: a drunken brawl.

   Similarintoxicated, inebriated

   Oppositesober

2. 2
   after haveverb

   Past participle of drink.

   He had drunk too much coffee to fall asleep that night.

   Every drop of the punch had been drunk before midnight.

   UsageUse have drunk (not incorrect: have drank), but drank on its own: I drank it yesterday.

   Note

   It covers all of drink's meanings, including absorbing and taking in through the senses. In standard English it is the participle and drank is the simple past, though many speakers swap the two, saying "I have drank" or "I drunk it."

3. 3
   nouncountable

   A person who is drunk, or who habitually drinks too much alcohol and is often intoxicated.

   Two drunks were arguing loudly outside the club.

   A drunk swayed against the lamppost and slid slowly to the ground.

4. 4
   while intoxicatedadverb

   While in a state of alcoholic intoxication.

   After losing his license, he promised his kids he would never drive drunk again.

   She sang drunk at the karaoke bar and forgot half the words.

   UsageComes after the verb, most often in drive drunk: arrested for driving drunk.

5. 5
   carried awayadjective

   Overcome with excitement or boldness, as if intoxicated.

   The crowd was drunk with triumph as the final whistle blew.

   Drunk on early success, the founders ignored every warning sign.

   UsageUsually drunk with or drunk on something: drunk with power, drunk on success.

   Similarintoxicated, giddy, elated, euphoric

   Note

   Intoxication becomes a metaphor for any feeling strong enough to cloud judgment. Macaulay's History of England speaks of the Whigs 'drunk with recent prosperity', and the phrase keeps its warning edge. Someone drunk on success is not just happy but reckless, about to overreach.

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