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
- undrinking adjective
Etymology
Origin of drinking
A Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; 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.
But when researchers subtly shifted what participants believed they were drinking, their experience changed.
From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026
The massive event is expected to require an array of services, including trash pickup, bus service, street closures, park maintenance, drinking water stations and building inspections of temporary Olympic structures.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
When participants believed they were drinking sugar, this area became more active, even if the drink did not actually contain sugar.
From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026
Until then I’m just up and taking my supplements, taking my medicine, washing my face and drinking water.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
I notice that I can fill a water balloon at the drinking fountain in the park almost twice as fast as Erlan.
From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
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.
