Word
dose
US/ˈdoʊs/
UK/dˈəʊs/
Definitions
01amount of medicine
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. the exact amount of medicine you are supposed to take at one time.
n. a measured portion of a therapeutic substance or radiation administered at a single time.
“The doctor told him to take a small dose of the syrup every four hours.”
“The clinical trial aimed to determine the minimum effective dose required to reduce blood pressure without causing significant side effects.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of'.
02an amount of an experience
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. an amount of something you experience, especially if it is difficult or strong.
n. a quantity of an experience or quality, often one that is disagreeable or intense.
“After a long week of work, she needed a healthy dose of peace and quiet.”
“The documentary provided a heavy dose of reality regarding the environmental challenges facing the region.”
Teaching tip
Commonly used in the idiom 'a dose of your own medicine', meaning to be treated the same way you treat others.
03an illness
C1 · Advanced Countable noun British English · Informal · Dialect
n. a bad cold or a case of the flu.
n. a bout of a common viral illness, such as a cold or influenza.
“I've had a nasty dose of the flu and have been in bed for three days.”
“He missed the conference because he was struck down by a particularly severe dose of whatever virus was going around the office.”
04to give medicine
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine
v. to give someone a specific amount of medicine.
v. to administer a measured quantity of a drug or medication to a person or animal.
“She had to dose the cat with antibiotics twice a day.”
“The veterinarian instructed the farmer on how to dose the livestock to prevent the spread of the parasite through the herd.”
Usage
Usually transitive, taking a direct object for the recipient and 'with' for the substance.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dose” in context.
Verb
01. administer a dose
“The nurse will administer a small dose of the sedative before the procedure begins.”
verb + noun
02. exceed the recommended dose
“It is dangerous to exceed the recommended dose of this medication.”
verb + adj + noun
03. prescribe a dose
“The doctor decided to prescribe a lower dose to minimize potential side effects.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. daily dose
“I need my daily dose of caffeine before I can start working effectively.”
adj + noun
05. healthy dose
“A healthy dose of skepticism is necessary when evaluating these claims.”
adj + noun
06. lethal dose
“The toxicology report confirmed that the victim had ingested a lethal dose of the chemical.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. dose of reality
“Losing the contract provided a harsh dose of reality for the ambitious startup.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“One dose of the MMR vaccine is about 97% effective at preventing rubella.” “Nearly 90,000 doses of the vaccine have already been given, with 135,000 more booked in for the coming weeks.” “The MenB vaccine helps protect against meningococcal group B bacteria and is recommended for babies aged eight weeks, followed by a second dose at 12 weeks and a booster at one year.” “Volunteers are being recruited, with the first doses expected to be given to healthy adults in the UK "within weeks".” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French dose, from Late Latin dosis, from Ancient Greek δόσις (dósis, “a portion prescribed”, literally “a giving”), used by Galen and other Greek physicians to mean an amount of medicine, from δίδωμι (dídōmi, “to give”). Doublet of doos.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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