dopamine

American  

[doh-puh-meen] / ˈdoʊ pəˌmin /

noun

dopamines plural

1. Biochemistry. a catecholamine neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, retina, and sympathetic ganglia, acting within the brain to help regulate movement and emotion: its depletion may cause Parkinson's disease.

2. Pharmacology. a dopamine preparation used to increase the force of contraction of the heart in the treatment of shock.

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dopamine British  

/ ˈdɒpəmɪn /

noun

1. a chemical found in the brain that acts as a neurotransmitter and is an intermediate compound in the synthesis of noradrenaline. Formula: (HO) 2 C 6 H 3 (CH 2 ) 2 NH 2

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dopamines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dopamine

First recorded in 1955–60; see origin at dopa, amine

Compare meaning

How does dopamine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• dopamine vs. serotonin

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dopamine dopamines

They also showed a 250% rise in dopamine, the feel-good hormone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

As dopamine levels decline, people may experience symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, and difficulty maintaining balance.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 28, 2026

“I couldn’t communicate with the woman I loved directly, but I got the dopamine hit from AImee that I used to get from her.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026

Caffeine blocks adenosine, a chemical that slows the activity of important brain messengers such as dopamine and acetylcholine.

From Science Daily ● May 13, 2026

The men experienced reduction in the dopamine transporter, a protein, as compared to a control group of nine men who were not compulsive Internet users.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

She likes babies: the thought of them fills her with dopamines and endorphins; and the inveterate shopper that she is, buying for them couldn't make her much higher.

From Tokyo to Tijuana: Gabriele Departing America by Sills, Steven (Steven David Justin)