intoxicate

UK: /ɪnˈtɒksɪkeɪt/

US: /ɪnˈtɑksɪˌkeɪt/

US: (v. in tok′si kāt′; adj. in tok′sə kit, -kāt′)

Inflections of 'intoxicate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

intoxicates

v 3rd person singular

intoxicating

v pres p

intoxicated

v past

intoxicated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tox•i•cate /ɪnˈtɑksɪˌkeɪt/   v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. Physiology to affect the body's physical and mental control by means of alcoholic liquor, a drug, or another substance; to cause to become drunk: [~ + object]
   Alcohol intoxicates you faster if you weigh less.
   [no object]
   All alcohol intoxicates.
2. to make enthusiastic;
   delight;
   exhilarate:
   [~ + object] The beauty of the summer night intoxicated her.

in•tox•i•cant /ɪnˈtɑksɪkənt/  n. 

[countable] Beer is an intoxicant.

in•tox•i•ca•tion /ɪnˌtɑksɪˈkeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -tox-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tox•i•cate  (v. in tok′si kāt′;adj. in tok′sə kit, -kāt′), v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing, adj. 
v.t. 

1. Physiology to affect temporarily with diminished physical and mental control by means of alcoholic liquor, a drug, or another substance, esp. to excite or stupefy with liquor.
2. to make enthusiastic;
   elate strongly, as by intoxicants;
   exhilarate:
   The prospect of success intoxicated him.
3. Pathology to poison.

v.i. 

4. to cause or produce intoxication:
   having the power to intoxicate.

adj. 

5. [Archaic.] intoxicated.

• Medieval Latin intoxicātus, past participle of intoxicāre to poison. See in-², toxic, -ate¹
• late Middle English 1375–1425

in•tox•i•ca•ble  (in tok′si kə bəl), adj.  in•tox′i•ca′tor, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intoxicate / ɪnˈtɒksɪˌkeɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to produce in (a person) a state ranging from euphoria to stupor, usually accompanied by loss of inhibitions and control
2. to stimulate, excite, or elate so as to overwhelm
3. (of a drug) to poison

Etymology: 16th Century: from Medieval Latin, from intoxicāre to poison, from Latin toxicum poison; see toxic

inˈtoxicable adjective