drunk

When someone is "drunk," alcohol has affected their mind and body enough that they are no longer fully in control. They may speak unclearly, walk badly, react slowly, or make poor choices. In everyday English, the word is most often used for a person who has had too much alcohol and is clearly not sober.

The word can describe anything from a mildly affected state to a very serious one, depending on the context. People may use it casually when talking about a party or a night out, but it can also sound serious when the situation involves danger, illness, or addiction.

"Drunk" usually describes a person whose behavior and physical control have been affected by alcohol. Depending on how much alcohol they have had, they may seem cheerful, loud, confused, unsteady, sleepy, or aggressive. The word often suggests clear loss of judgment or coordination, not just light relaxation. In serious cases, it can point to dangerous impairment, passing out, or alcohol poisoning.

In normal use, it is most often an adjective: "He is drunk," "They came home drunk," or "She sounded drunk on the phone." It can also be a noun in informal use, meaning a person who is often drunk or seen that way, though that use can sound harsh and judgmental. Related forms include "drunken," which is more common before a noun in phrases like "a drunken fight" or "drunken behavior."

The tone of the word depends on the situation. Sometimes it is casual and tied to parties, bars, and nights out. In other cases, it is serious and connected with unsafe driving, public disorder, health problems, or alcohol dependence. The core idea stays the same throughout: alcohol has changed how someone thinks, speaks, moves, or behaves.