drunkenness

UK: /ˈdrʌŋkənnɪs/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

drunk•en /ˈdrʌŋkən/   adj. [before a noun]

1. intoxicated;
   drunk:
   the drunken man's inability to walk a straight line.
2. often or frequently drunk.
3. relating to, caused by, or showing the effects of intoxication:
   a drunken quarrel.

drunk•en•ly, adv. 
drunk•en•ness, n. [uncountable]
Usage

Compare the adjectives drunk and drunken. Both can be used with nouns that refer to persons:
The man is drunk.
A drunken customer.
Drunken is used with nouns that do not refer to persons:
a drunken party, a drunken quarrel.
Only drunk can be used after the verb be, as in:
He is really drunk;
 we would not say: He is really drunken.
Usually, drunk is not used before a noun, unless the noun is driver, driving:
a drunk driver;
 we would not say: a drunk girl.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

drunk•en  (drung′kən), adj. 

1. intoxicated;
   drunk.
2. given to drunkenness.
3. pertaining to, caused by, or marked by intoxication:
   a drunken quarrel.

• variant of drunk adjective, adjectival and past participle

drunk′en•ly, adv. 
drunk′en•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. . inebriated, tipsy, fuddled, besotted.

Antonyms

• 1. . sober.

Usage

See drunk.