English Reference

Word

drug

US/ˈdɹəɡ/

UK/dɹˈʌɡ/

Definitions

01medicine

A2 · Elementary Countable noun Medicine General-service

n. a chemical substance used as a medicine to treat an illness or injury.

n. a substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease; a pharmaceutical agent.

“The doctor prescribed a new drug to help lower his blood pressure.”

“Clinical trials are essential to ensure that any new drug is both effective and safe for public consumption before it reaches the market.”

02illegal substance

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun General-service

n. an illegal or addictive substance that people take for pleasure or to change how they feel.

n. a psychoactive substance, often illegal or controlled, used for recreational purposes rather than medical necessity.

“He was arrested for trying to sell illegal drugs in the park.”

“The government has launched a new initiative to combat the rising use of synthetic drugs among young adults in urban areas.”

Synonyms

narcoticintoxicant

03addictive activity

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal

n. something that you feel you cannot stop doing or using because it makes you feel good.

n. metaphorical extension referring to any activity, emotion, or substance that creates a dependency or compulsive need.

“For many people, social media has become a digital drug that they check constantly.”

“The adrenaline rush of high-stakes gambling became a drug for him, eventually leading to his financial ruin.”

04drugstore

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English · Informal

n. a short way of saying 'drugstore' — a shop where you buy medicine and beauty products.

n. an elliptical form of 'drugstore', common in North American English to refer to a retail pharmacy.

“I need to stop by the drug to pick up some aspirin and shampoo.”

“In many small towns, the local drug serves as a central hub for both medical supplies and basic household necessities.”

Synonyms

05to give someone a drug

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to give someone a drug, often secretly, to make them sleepy or unconscious.

v. to administer a sedative or intoxicating substance to a person, typically without their knowledge or consent.

“The thieves tried to drug the guard by putting something in his coffee.”

“The victim suspected that someone had managed to drug her drink during the crowded party, as she had no memory of the evening.”

Synonyms

sedatespikeintoxicate

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “drug” in context.

01. drug trafficking 02. drug use 03. drug development 04. drug cartels 05. drug delivery 06. drug traffickers

Word family

NOUN

Related words

Idioms

Domain

Pharmacology

This entry

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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Very common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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English Reference