drunk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drunk" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol. Example: "After a few too many drinks at the party, he was completely drunk and needed help getting home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was just drunk.

The Guardian - Music

Directly across the street, until the 1980s, there was a café called A la bonne Santé (literally, "to your good health" – santé means health) where the newly freed men would toast their liberty before drinking themselves dead drunk.

The Guardian

The report said sales at the big coffee chains rose 10% to £2.1bn last year with around 11m cups of coffee drunk in, or carried out, each week.

The Guardian - Business

(When non-disabled actors play disabled people, they love to squirm, startle and speak as if they were drunk).

The Guardian - Opinion

The worst are the drunk companions, who are an unnecessary further distraction for doctors and nurses dealing with their mates.

The Guardian

Introduces on-the-spot fixed penalties for a range of minor offences, including being drunk and disorderly.

The Guardian - Opinion

By 1958, when the trophy was due to be defended in Sweden, Rahn had become a heavy drinker, put on weight and been jailed for drunk driving.

The Guardian

Buck faced a maximum of two years in prison and a £5,000 fine for being drunk on an aircraft.

The Guardian

The band's singer Michael Stipe and Buck's wife Stephanie burst into tears as the jury cleared him of a charge of being drunk on an aircraft last April, two counts of common assault, and one charge of damaging BA crockery.

The Guardian

It's a bit like going to bed drunk; you wake up feeling completely different, if not better.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I was pretty drunk and so was he.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "drunk", consider the context and audience. More formal settings may require a less colloquial term like "intoxicated" or "inebriated".

Common error

Avoid using "drunk" in formal or professional writing. Opt for more neutral or formal alternatives like "intoxicated" or "under the influence" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "drunk" primarily functions as an adjective describing someone who is intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. It can also function as a noun referring to a person who is habitually intoxicated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "drunk" is a common adjective and noun used to describe a state of alcohol intoxication or a person who is habitually intoxicated. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used, particularly in news and media. While generally considered neutral, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives like "intoxicated" or "under the influence" in professional or academic contexts. Understanding the nuances between "drunk" and related terms like "tipsy" or "inebriated" can help ensure clarity and appropriateness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intoxicated

A more formal synonym for being under the influence of alcohol.

inebriated

A formal and somewhat clinical term for being drunk.

tipsy

Describes a state of mild intoxication.

smashed

An informal term implying a high level of intoxication.

hammered

Similar to "smashed", indicating heavy intoxication.

wasted

Implies a loss of control due to intoxication.

under the influence

A legal term for being impaired by alcohol or drugs.

boozed up

Informal term indicating intoxication due to alcohol consumption.

liquored up

Informal term indicating intoxication due to alcohol consumption.

plastered

Informal term indicating a high level of intoxication.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "drunk"?

To be "drunk" means to be in a state of intoxication caused by excessive alcohol consumption, leading to impaired physical and mental control.

What are some synonyms for "drunk"?

Synonyms for "drunk" include "intoxicated", "inebriated", "tipsy", "smashed", and "wasted", each implying a different degree of impairment.

Is it appropriate to use the word "drunk" in formal writing?

In formal writing, it's generally better to avoid using the word "drunk" and instead opt for more formal alternatives such as "intoxicated" or "under the influence".

What's the difference between "drunk" and "tipsy"?

"Drunk" generally implies a significant level of intoxication, while "tipsy" suggests a mild state of intoxication. The level of impairment is less severe when someone is "tipsy" compared to being "drunk".