drinking

American

[dring-king] / ˈdrɪŋ kɪŋ /

adjective

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

habitual and excessive consumption of alcohol.

His drinking caused him to lose his job.

Other Word Forms

undrinking adjective

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.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel filed a defamation lawsuit against the Atlantic and one of its writers Monday, alleging an article about his drinking and overall conduct was malicious and factually inaccurate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

The findings highlight moringa as a promising, more sustainable option for reducing microplastics in drinking water, especially in smaller communities where cost and accessibility are key concerns.

From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026

Tamjidi, a self-proclaimed “zillennial,” said her bookstore’s events are popular among younger customers, who are increasingly seeking out social gatherings that don’t involve drinking or partying.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Under Bass, city officials decided to double the capacity of the project, which will transform wastewater into 45 million gallons of pure drinking water a day, enough for 500,000 people.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Katherine made it sound like they were going to be sitting around eating sugar cookies and drinking lemonade.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023