noun
Common
dope
dohp
Dope (noun) means (informal) An illegal drug, especially marijuana or heroin. Example: “Police found a small stash of dope in his jacket.”
noun
1
(informal) An illegal drug, especially marijuana or heroin.
"Police found a small stash of dope in his jacket."
"The documentary looked at how dope is smuggled across borders."
"He was arrested for carrying dope through the airport."
2
Inside information, or useful facts about something.
"Give me the dope on the new manager before I meet him."
"Do you have the dope on which team is likely to win?"
"She got the inside dope on the new restaurant from a friend."
3
(informal) A foolish or stupid person.
"Don't be such a dope — read the label first."
"I felt like a complete dope when I locked my keys in the car."
"Only a dope would forget to charge his phone before a long trip."
adj
1
(slang) Excellent, impressive, cool.
"That's a dope pair of sneakers."
"That was a dope concert, and the whole crowd sang along."
verb
1
To give someone drugs, often secretly or illegally, or (in sports) to use banned performance-enhancing drugs.
"The horse had been doped before the race."
"The cyclist was banned after doping to boost his performance."
"Officials fear that some athletes will dope before the big championship."
How to use dope
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: an illegal drug, inside information, a fool, or (as slang) something excellent.
Common mistake
Not related to "dopamine" despite the similar spelling.
When to use it
The "cool/excellent" sense is casual slang; avoid in formal writing.
Common pairings
do dope
the inside dope
dope test
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Word forms
- Plural
- dopes
- Third person singular
- dopes
- Past tense
- doped
- Comparative
- doper
- Superlative
- dopest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Police found a small stash of _____ in his jacket.
Etymology
From Dutch doop, a thick dipping sauce, related to a verb meaning "to dip." The drug sense grew from thick, sticky opium paste; the "cool" slang sense is a later 20th-century development.
Class of 1900
dope joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dope
See all rhymes for dope →Frequently asked questions
What does “dope” mean?
The word “dope” means (informal) An illegal drug, especially marijuana or heroin. In plain terms, depending on context: an illegal drug, inside information, a fool, or (as slang) something excellent.
How do you pronounce “dope”?
“Dope” is pronounced dohp ([doʊp] in IPA).
How do you use “dope” in a sentence?
Here is “dope” used in a sentence: “Police found a small stash of dope in his jacket.”
What part of speech is “dope”?
Depending on how it is used, “dope” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “dope” come from?
The word “dope” dates back to around 1900 and comes from Dutch. From Dutch doop, a thick dipping sauce, related to a verb meaning "to dip." The drug sense grew from thick, sticky opium paste; the "cool" slang sense is a later 20th-century development.
Is “dope” a common word?
“Dope” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dope” have?
“Dope” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (informal) An illegal drug, especially marijuana or heroin.
Is calling something 'dope' a compliment?
Yes, as slang, describing something as "dope" is a compliment meaning it is excellent, impressive, or cool, as in "that jacket is dope." This positive adjective sense is informal and separate from the noun senses of dope, which can mean a drug, inside information, or a foolish person.
What is the difference between dope meaning cool and dope meaning a foolish person?
Part of speech and context separate them. As an adjective ("that's dope") it means excellent or cool, while as a noun for a person ("he's a dope") it means someone foolish or stupid. The admiring slang sense is positive, whereas calling a person a dope is an insult.
What is the difference between dope and dupe?
A dope is a foolish or stupid person, describing someone's lack of sense. A dupe is a person who is tricked or deceived by someone else, so a dope may act foolishly on their own while a dupe is fooled by another, which makes the two words not interchangeable.
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