drinking
drinking — noun
1. the consumption of alcoholic drinks, especially as a regular habit or social act
the consumption of alcoholic drinks, especially as a regular habit or social activity that may affect health or behaviour
Nikhil decided to stop drinking after he noticed it affected his sleep and concentration.
stop drinking — collocation for quitting alcohol
Heavy drinking has been linked to liver disease and high blood pressure.
heavy drinking — common collocation for large consumption
The new law raised the legal drinking age from eighteen to twenty-one.
Layla's doctor warned her that her drinking was putting her health at serious risk.
- alcohol consumption
more formal, often used in medical or statistical contexts
- alcohol use
neutral term, common in health advice
- boozing
informal or slang, suggests heavy drinking
- sobriety
the state of not being under the influence of alcohol
- abstinence
the choice not to drink alcohol at all
文法句型
drinking + noun (compound modifier)
heavy / binge / problem drinking
用法筆記
Frequently appears in compound nouns such as drinking problem, drinking game, drinking session. The noun describes a pattern or habit — do not use it to refer to a single serving of alcohol (use drink instead).
常見錯誤
2. the physical action of swallowing water or another liquid through the mouth, esp
the physical action of swallowing water or another liquid through the mouth, especially to satisfy thirst or maintain health
Élise's doctor told her that drinking at least eight glasses of water daily is essential for kidney health.
drinking + quantity + of + noun — pattern for recommended intake
Safe drinking water is hard to find in the villages after the flood.
drinking water — common compound noun for potable water
Christopher increased his drinking of herbal tea to soothe his sore throat during the winter.
The toddler's drinking from a cup without spilling was celebrated by the whole family.
- swallowing
focuses on the throat-and-gullet action rather than the overall activity
- hydrating
emphasises the health purpose of taking in fluids
文法句型
drinking + noun (compound noun)
drinking of + noun
用法筆記
This sense is less common than the verb drink in everyday conversation. The noun is typically found in formal or instructional contexts, or in the compound drinking water (water suitable for drinking). The possessive structure (e.g. the patient's drinking of fluids) is typical of medical writing.