What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Drinking vs Drunk - What's the difference?

drinking | drunk |

As verbs the difference between drinking and drunk

is that drinking is while drunk is .

As nouns the difference between drinking and drunk

is that drinking is an act or session by which drink is consumed, especially alcoholic beverages while drunk is a habitual drinker, especially one who is frequently intoxicated.

As an adjective drunk is

in a state of intoxication caused by the consumption of excessive alcohol, usually by drinking alcoholic beverages.

drinking

English

Verb

(head)
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act or session by which drink is consumed, especially alcoholic beverages.
  • * 1853 , Susan Bogert Warner, The wide, wide world (page 372)
  • At home there were other studies and much reading; many tea drinkings on the lawn, and even breakfastings, which she thought pleasanter still.

    drunk

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • In a state of intoxication caused by the consumption of excessive alcohol, usually by drinking alcoholic beverages.
  • (usually followed by with or on) Elated or emboldened.
  • Drunk with power he immediately ordered a management reshuffle.
  • * Macaulay
  • drunk with recent prosperity
  • Drenched or saturated with moisture or liquid.
  • * Bible, Deuteronomy xxxii. 42
  • I will make mine arrows drunk with blood.

    Synonyms

    * (intoxicated from alcohol) blitzed, drunken, ebrious, hammered, pissed, tipsy, wasted, smashed; see also

    Derived terms

    (terms derived from drunk) * drunkard * drunk as a skunk * drunk driver * drunk driving * drunken * drunkenness * punch drunk * drunk tank

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A habitual drinker, especially one who is frequently intoxicated.
  • * 1971 , William S. Burroughs, The Wild Boys: A Book of the Dead , page 10
  • Another drunk is sleeping in dangerous proximity to a brush fire.
  • A drinking-bout; a period of drunkenness.
  • * 1858 , "A Scarcity of Jurors—Cangemi's Third Trial," New York Times , 8 Jun., p. 4:
  • Gen. G. had been on a long drunk from July last until Christmas.
  • A drunken state.
  • * 2006 , Patrick McCabe, Winterwood , Bloomsbury 2007, p. 10:
  • Here – help yourself to another drop there, Redmond! By the time we've got a good drunk on us there'll be more crack in this valley than the night I pissed on the electric fence!

    Derived terms

    * cheap drunk * expensive drunk * good drunk

    Synonyms

    * (habitual drinker) alcoholic, drunkard, pisshead, piss artist, sot; see also

    Verb

    (head)
  • (Southern US) (drink)
  • English irregular past participles