drunk

1.verbA2

Definition

used as the past participle of 'drink' — the form that follows 'have', 'has', or 'had' to show that someone has swallowed a liquid in the past.

Example

Tuan had already drunk three cups of strong coffee before noon.

past perfect: had drunk

Mira has never drunk alcohol of any kind in her life.

present perfect: has drunk

Grammar Patterns

have/has/had + drunk

Usage Note

The simple past form is 'drank' (e.g., 'She drank water'). Use 'drunk' only with an auxiliary verb like 'have', 'has', or 'had'.

Common Mistakes

I drunk too much water yesterday.

I drank too much water yesterday.

'drunk' is only the past participle; use 'drank' for simple past.

She has drank all the milk.

She has drunk all the milk.

after 'has', always use 'drunk', not 'drank'.

1.adjectiveB2

Definition

unable to think, speak, or move normally because you have drunk too much alcohol.

Example

Gabriela felt dizzy and drunk after just two small glasses of wine.

linking verb + drunk

The bus driver was arrested for being drunk while on duty.

Common collocations

get drunk
drunk driver
drunk driving
blind drunk

Synonyms

intoxicated
more formal and clinical; often used in medical or legal contexts
tipsy
much milder — slightly drunk, not seriously affected
wasted
very informal slang for being extremely drunk

Antonyms

sober
not affected by alcohol at all

Grammar Patterns

be + drunk

get + drunk

drunk + noun

Common Mistakes

I was drunken at the party last night.

I was drunk at the party last night.

'drunken' is only used before nouns (e.g., 'drunken behaviour'); use 'drunk' after linking verbs.

He is a drunk driver' (when referring to a habit).

He is a drunken driver

'drunken' before a noun suggests a habit or characteristic; 'drunk driver' means the driver is currently drunk.

2.adjective

Definition

behaving unacceptably in public — for example by shouting, fighting, or causing trouble — while drunk, which is a criminal offence in Britain.

Example

Walid was charged with being drunk and disorderly outside a nightclub on Saturday night.

legal charge: charged with being drunk and disorderly

The police arrested three people for drunk and disorderly conduct near the main square.

legal phrase: drunk and disorderly conduct

Common collocations

drunk and disorderly conduct
drunk and disorderly behavior
charged with being drunk and disorderly

Antonyms

law-abiding
obeying the law, not causing trouble in public

Grammar Patterns

be + drunk and disorderly

drunk and disorderly + noun

Usage Note

This is a fixed legal phrase in British English. In American English, similar charges are often called 'public intoxication' or 'disorderly conduct'.

3.adjectiveC1

Definition

so strongly affected by a feeling or experience — such as love, success, power, or joy — that you lose normal judgment or self-control; used figuratively, not about alcohol.

Example

Eve was drunk with happiness after learning that she had won the top scholarship.

figurative: drunk with happiness

Vivek became drunk with power after his promotion to regional director of the company.

collocation: drunk with power

Common collocations

drunk with power
drunk with joy
drunk with success
drunk with love
drunk with excitement

Synonyms

intoxicated
also used figuratively, with a similar 'drunk with' pattern
consumed
suggests being completely taken over by a feeling
overwhelmed
more general; can be positive or negative

Antonyms

indifferent
not affected by the emotion at all
unmoved
not emotionally affected

Grammar Patterns

drunk with + noun

Usage Note

Always followed by 'with' + a noun naming the emotion or experience. Common collocations include 'drunk with power', 'drunk with joy', 'drunk with success', and 'drunk with love'. This sense is not used before nouns (e.g., you cannot say 'a drunk-with-power manager').

Common Mistakes

She was drunk of happiness.

She was drunk with happiness.

the correct preposition is 'with', not 'of'.

He is a drunk-with-power manager.

He is a manager who is drunk with power.

this figurative sense does not go before nouns.

Idioms

blind drunk

idiom

extremely drunk, to the point where you cannot see, stand, or think clearly.

Henrik got blind drunk at the office party and had to be driven home by a colleague.

The man was blind drunk and could not remember where he had parked his car.

(as) drunk as a lord

idiom

very drunk, typically used in informal British English to describe someone who has had far too much alcohol.

By the end of the wedding reception, Kasia's uncle was as drunk as a lord and telling jokes to everyone.

The tourists showed up at the hotel bar every night and left drunk as a lord.

roaring drunk

idiom

extremely drunk and loud, noisy, or aggressive in behaviour.

A group of roaring drunk fans were thrown out of the stadium for causing trouble.

The pub had to call security when two customers became roaring drunk and started shouting at each other.

drunk and disorderly

idiom

Acting in a loud or aggressive manner in public after drinking too much alcohol.

Maya was charged with being drunk and disorderly at the concert.

The police warned the group to stop their drunk and disorderly behavior.

1.nounB2

Definition

a person who regularly consumes too much alcohol, to a degree that harms their health or daily life and makes it hard to quit.

Example

Kasia's uncle was a drunk who spent most of his wages on whiskey every week.

countable noun: a drunk

The charity runs a clinic where local drunks can receive treatment for their drinking problem.

Common collocations

a drunk
old drunk
reformed drunk

Synonyms

alcoholic
more clinical; suggests a medical condition or addiction
problem drinker
milder and less judgmental than 'drunk'

Antonyms

teetotaller
someone who never drinks alcohol at all

Grammar Patterns

a drunk

the drunks

Usage Note

Distinguishes habitual identity from temporary state. This sense (HEAVY DRINKER) refers to someone who frequently drinks too much, whereas sense 2 (INTOXICATED PERSON) describes a person's condition at a single moment. Using 'drunk' to describe someone can sound harsh or judgmental; 'someone with a drinking problem' is often more respectful.

Common Mistakes

He is a drunken.

He is a drunk.

'drunken' is only an adjective, never a noun.

2.nounB2

Definition

a person who is currently drunk or intoxicated, often used to describe someone encountered at a particular time or place who has had too much alcohol.

Example

The hospital treated two drunks who had alcohol poisoning after a party.

plural: drunks (temporary state)

Security guards dragged a drunk out of the hotel lobby after he fell asleep.

Common collocations

a drunk
drunks on the street
drunks in the bar

Synonyms

intoxicated person
more formal and neutral
inebriate
very formal or humorous; rarely used in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

a drunk

the drunks

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1 (HEAVY DRINKER), this sense describes a temporary state — the person is drunk at that moment but may not have a drinking problem in general. Context usually makes the meaning clear: 'the bar was full of drunks' implies currently drunk, while 'he was a drunk who lost his job' implies habitual drinking.

Word family

drink
verbA1
drink
nounA1
drinker
nounB1
drunken
adjectiveB2
drunkenly
adverbC1
drunkenness
nounC1
drinkable
adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These four words all describe the effects of alcohol, but they differ widely in register and degree. 'Drunk' is the neutral, everyday word — suitable for most situations, from casual conversation to news reports. 'Intoxicated' is more formal and clinical, used by doctors, police reports, and official documents; it sounds out of place in casual chat. 'Tipsy' is the mildest term, describing the pleasant, slightly unsteady stage before full drunkenness — someone who is tipsy can still walk and talk clearly. 'Wasted' is very informal slang for being extremely drunk, often to the point of being unable to function. A person might say 'I got a bit tipsy at dinner' but 'He was completely wasted after the shots.' Choose based on how strong the effect is and who you are speaking to.

drunkintoxicatedtipsywasted

Common collocations

Nouns

driver
driving
person

Adverbs

completely
absolutely
totally
clearly

Phrases

get drunk
drunk driving
drunk driver

Prepositions

with (drunk with power/joy)

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

'Drunk' comes from Old English 'druncen', the past participle of 'drincan' (to drink). This goes back to Proto-Germanic '*drunkana-', from the same ancient root as 'drink'. The adjective meaning 'intoxicated by alcohol' appeared in Old English as well. By the 14th century, people were already using 'drunk' figuratively for being overwhelmed by emotions — 'drunk with joy' or 'drunk with power'. The noun form (meaning a person who drinks too much) developed by the early 1600s.

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drunk

drunk — verb

1. used as the past participle of 'drink' — the form that follows 'have', 'has', or

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

drunk — adjective

1. unable to think, speak, or move normally because you have drunk too much alcohol

Grammar Patterns

Common Mistakes

2. behaving unacceptably in public — for example by shouting, fighting, or causing

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

3. so strongly affected by a feeling or experience — such as love, success, power,

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

blind drunk

(as) drunk as a lord

roaring drunk

drunk and disorderly

drunk — noun

1. a person who regularly consumes too much alcohol, to a degree that harms their h

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a person who is currently drunk or intoxicated, often used to describe someone e

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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