adj
Uncommon
drunken
DRUHNG-kuhn
Drunken (adj) means Intoxicated with alcohol; drunk. Example: “A drunken man stumbled out of the pub singing.”
adj
1
Intoxicated with alcohol; drunk.
"A drunken man stumbled out of the pub singing."
"She woke up with a pounding headache after a drunken night out."
"The drunken guest could barely stand up and kept losing his keys."
2
Caused by or typical of being drunk.
"He gave a drunken speech that embarrassed everyone at the wedding."
"The drunken brawl outside the bar drew a crowd."
"Her drunken laughter echoed down the street long after midnight."
verb
1
To make someone drunk, or to become drunk.
"The strong punch quickly drunkened the party guests."
How to use drunken
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes someone or something under the influence of alcohol, or behaviour typical of that state.
Common mistake
"Drunken" usually describes the noun before it (a drunken man, drunken laughter), while "drunk" is more often used after a verb (he got drunk, he is drunk).
Common pairings
a drunken stupor
drunken behaviour
drunken sailor
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- drunkens
- Past tense
- drunkened
- Comparative
- more drunken
- Superlative
- most drunken
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ man stumbled out of the pub singing.
Etymology
From Old English druncen, the past participle of drincan ("to drink") — literally "having drunk".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for drunken
See all rhymes for drunken →Frequently asked questions
What does “drunken” mean?
The word “drunken” means intoxicated with alcohol; drunk. In plain terms, describes someone or something under the influence of alcohol, or behaviour typical of that state.
How do you pronounce “drunken”?
“Drunken” is pronounced DRUHNG-kuhn (/ˈdɹʌŋkən/ in IPA).
How do you use “drunken” in a sentence?
Here is “drunken” used in a sentence: “A drunken man stumbled out of the pub singing.”
What is another word for “drunken”?
Words with a similar meaning to “drunken” include drunk.
What part of speech is “drunken”?
Depending on how it is used, “drunken” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “drunken” come from?
The word “drunken” comes from Old English. From Old English druncen, the past participle of drincan ("to drink") — literally "having drunk".
Is “drunken” a common word?
“Drunken” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “drunken” have?
“Drunken” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: intoxicated with alcohol; drunk.
What is the difference between drunk and drunken?
Drunk is generally used after a verb to describe a person's state, as in 'he was drunk,' while drunken is used before a noun to describe something associated with or caused by drunkenness, as in 'a drunken argument.' Drunken can also describe things rather than people, such as a drunken stagger or a drunken brawl.
Can drunken describe things other than people?
Yes, drunken is often used to describe actions, behavior, or events that are caused by or typical of being drunk, such as 'drunken driving' or 'a drunken celebration,' even when no single person is the direct subject.
Is drunken a formal or informal word?
Drunken is a standard descriptive adjective usable in both formal and informal writing, though it often carries a slightly literary or disapproving tone compared to the more neutral 'drunk.'
