noun
antihistamine
an-tee-HIHS-tuh-meen
Antihistamine (noun) means a drug that blocks the effects of histamine, commonly used to relieve allergy symptoms like sneezing or itching. Example: “He takes an antihistamine every morning during hay fever season.”
noun
1
A drug that blocks the effects of histamine, commonly used to relieve allergy symptoms like sneezing or itching.
"He takes an antihistamine every morning during hay fever season."
"The antihistamine made her drowsy, so she avoided driving that afternoon."
"Perhaps the most striking method of demonstrating the effect of antihistamine substances is to use them to protect guinea-pigs against the action of histamine sprayed into the air from an atomizer."
— British journal of pharmacology and chemotherapy (1946)
How to use antihistamine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA medicine that stops allergy symptoms by blocking histamine.
Common mistake
Some antihistamines cause drowsiness while newer ones don't — check the label before driving or operating machinery.
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Word forms
- Plural
- antihistamines
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He takes an _____ every morning during hay fever season.
Etymology
Built from anti- ("against") and histamine, the chemical the body releases during an allergic reaction.
Rhymes for antihistamine
See all rhymes for antihistamine →Frequently asked questions
What does “antihistamine” mean?
The word “antihistamine” means a drug that blocks the effects of histamine, commonly used to relieve allergy symptoms like sneezing or itching. In plain terms, a medicine that stops allergy symptoms by blocking histamine.
How do you pronounce “antihistamine”?
“Antihistamine” is pronounced an-tee-HIHS-tuh-meen (/ˌæn.tiˈhɪs.tə.miːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “antihistamine” in a sentence?
Here is “antihistamine” used in a sentence: “He takes an antihistamine every morning during hay fever season.”
What part of speech is “antihistamine”?
“Antihistamine” is a noun.
