- present participle of drink.
drinking
Americanadjective
-
suitable or safe to drink.
drinking water.
-
used in drinking.
a drinking glass.
-
addicted to or indulging excessively in alcohol.
Is he a drinking man?
-
of or relating to the act of drinking, especially the drinking of alcohol.
a drinking companion.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of drinking
A Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at drink, -ing 2, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The statistics behind those stories are real: Younger adults are drinking less than previous generations did at the same age.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
Designed to blend into the historic Baroque park, they are notable for their curved ceramic facades, daylight from skylights, accessibility features, drinking fountains -- and free use.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
One study showed that drinking blood orange juice for a month increased the number of gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026
The family would also need a raised platform where they could retreat to safety, and they would stock food and drinking water in advance.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
But neither sister paid attention to Elisha’s guidance on drinking either.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
