liquor

1 of 2

noun

li·​quor ˈli-kər How to pronounce liquor (audio)
: a liquid substance: such as
a
: a usually distilled rather than fermented alcoholic beverage
b
: a watery solution of a drug

liquor

2 of 2

verb

liquored; liquoring ˈli-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce liquor (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to dress (something, such as leather) with oil or grease
2
: to make drunk with alcoholic liquor
usually used with up

intransitive verb

: to drink alcoholic liquor especially to excess
usually used with up

Examples of liquor in a Sentence

Noun He drinks beer and wine, but he doesn't drink any hard liquor. vodka, whiskey, and other liquors Verb the men liquored up at the roadhouse and then thought it would be a good idea to go hunting
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
That’s because this ubiquitous brand is the most popular and best-selling Irish whiskey in the world, a staple of liquor stores and bars, both dive and high-end, that nearly everyone who has ever tried whiskey before has tasted. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2025 In the Canadian province of Ontario, Premier Doug Ford ordered government-run liquor stores to take American alcohol products off their shelves. Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
There is really no relevant, responsible reason to allow grocery stores to sell beer and wine — or liquor for that matter. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 17 Dec. 2024 The work stoppage threatened the supply of everything from bananas to liquor to European luxury cars, all with the busy holiday shopping season less than two months away. Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, 3 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for liquor

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English licour, from Anglo-French, from Latin liquor, from liquēre

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1502, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of liquor was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Liquor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liquor. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

liquor

noun
li·​quor
ˈlik-ər
1
: a liquid substance or solution
dye liquor
2
: a strong alcoholic beverage

Medical Definition

liquor

noun
li·​quor ˈlik-ər How to pronounce liquor (audio)
: a liquid substance: as
a
: a usually distilled rather than fermented alcoholic beverage
b
: a solution of a medicinal substance usually in water compare tincture

More from Merriam-Webster on liquor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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