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Synonyms

liquor

American  
[lik-er, lik-wawr] / ˈlɪk ər, ˈlɪk wɔr /

noun

  1. a distilled or spirituous beverage, as brandy or whiskey, as distinguished from a fermented beverage, as wine or beer.

  2. any liquid substance, as broth from cooked meats or vegetables.

    Synonyms:
    juice

  3. Pharmacology. solution.

  4. a solution of a substance, especially a concentrated one used in the industrial arts.

verb (used with object)

  1. Informal. to furnish or ply with liquor to drink (often followed byup ).

verb (used without object)

  1. Informal. to drink large quantities of liquor (often followed byup ).

liquor British  
/ ˈlɪkə /

noun

  1. any alcoholic drink, esp spirits, or such drinks collectively

  2. any liquid substance, esp that in which food has been cooked

  3. pharmacol a solution of a pure substance in water

  4. brewing warm water added to malt to form wort

  5. drunk; intoxicated

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. brewing to steep (malt) in warm water to form wort; mash

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of liquor

1175–1225; < Latin: a liquid, originally liquidity ( liqu ( ēre ) to be liquid + -or -or 1 ); replacing Middle English lic ( o ) ur < Old French ( French liqueur ) < Latin liquōrem, accusative of liquor

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.

Walking into Oldfield’s Liquor Room, I noticed that it looked like a normal bar, all dark wood and dim lighting.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

The drinks maker said Friday it had reached a settlement with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his government that ensures Crown Royal will continue to be sold through Liquor Control Board of Ontario outlets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

It may also pose problems for serving drinks when pandemic-era alcohol rules expire this summer, since the State Liquor Authority will only recognize completed approvals.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2025

“We can’t drive by Circus Liquor without her freaking out.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2024

There’s a trash can, an oil drum spray-painted blue, near the front door of Blue Spot Liquor.

From "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher

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.