Dope — Meaning, Definition & Examples

Definition

1. An illegal drug, especially marijuana.
2. A stupid person.
3. Insider information.
4. To give drugs to someone.
5. Excellent/cool (slang).

Context Alive

The journalist promised to get the dope on the celebrity scandal, spending weeks interviewing sources and digging through records until she finally uncovered the truth everyone wanted to know.

Meanings

5 meanings

1 Illegal Drug, Especially Marijuana (Noun) — VERY COMMON Common ▼

This meaning is about illegal drugs taken for pleasure, usually cannabis. Imagine police finding dope hidden in someone’s car during a routine traffic stop, leading to an immediate arrest. This is dope — illegal drugs. You might hear about someone getting caught selling dope at a concert, or a documentary could explore how dope dealers operate in big cities. Or picture worried parents discovering their teenager has been smoking dope with friends after school. The word carries a casual, street-level tone.

Vivid Example

The customs officers found dope hidden inside hollow books in the traveler’s suitcase, leading to his arrest and a lengthy investigation into the smuggling network.

2 A Stupid or Silly Person (Noun) — COMMON Common ▼

This meaning is about calling someone foolish or silly in a lighthearted way. Imagine your friend locks their keys inside the car for the third time, and you laugh and call them a dope, shaking your head at their forgetfulness. This is calling someone a dope — affectionately stupid. You might say “I’m such a dope” after making an obvious mistake, or someone could call their brother a dope for believing an obvious joke. Or picture a sitcom character who’s lovable but always acts like a complete dope. The word suggests gentle teasing, not harsh criticism.

Vivid Example

“You told her the surprise party details?” his sister shouted. “You dope! Now we have to change everything because you can’t keep a secret for five minutes!”

3 Insider Information (Noun) — COMMON Common ▼

This meaning is about details or facts that aren’t widely known. Imagine a coworker pulling you aside to give you the dope on the company restructuring before the official announcement, sharing secrets from the boardroom. This is the dope — insider knowledge. You might ask a friend for the dope on a new restaurant before booking, or a reporter could promise readers the inside dope on a political scandal. Or think about getting the real dope on a job from someone who actually works there. The phrase suggests exclusive, valuable information.

Vivid Example

Before the interview, Marcus called his contact at the company to get the dope on what the hiring manager really wanted, giving him a major advantage over other candidates.

4 Give Drugs to Someone (Verb) — COMMON Common ▼

This meaning is about secretly giving drugs to a person or animal. Imagine a crime movie where someone dopes a security guard’s coffee, causing him to fall asleep so they can break into the vault. This is doping someone — drugging them secretly. You might hear about racehorses being doped to run faster or slower, or a thriller could feature a villain who dopes victims at parties. Or picture athletes who get caught because they doped themselves with performance enhancers. The word suggests sneaky, often illegal drugging.

Vivid Example

The investigation revealed that someone had doped the champion racehorse before the big race, explaining its strange behavior and unexpected last-place finish.

5 Excellent, Cool, Impressive (Adjective — Slang) — COMMON Common ▼

Among younger people and in modern slang, “dope” means excellent, cool, or impressive. “That’s dope!” is high praise. This usage emerged from hip-hop culture in the 1980s and has become mainstream among millennials and Gen Z. When young people say something is dope, they mean it’s genuinely awesome. This meaning is about praising something as really cool or amazing. Imagine your friend showing you their new sneakers and you saying, “Those are so dope!” with genuine admiration for the style. This is something being dope — awesome and impressive. You might describe a dope new song that you can’t stop playing, or someone could call a movie’s special effects totally dope. Or picture gamers calling a new release dope because the graphics are incredible. The word carries youthful, enthusiastic energy.

Vivid Example

When Tyler played his new track at the party, everyone agreed it was absolutely dope — the beat was fresh, the lyrics were clever, and people couldn’t stop dancing.

Examples from the Street

“The police found dope hidden in the car.”

The officers discovered illegal drugs concealed in the vehicle

“What’s the dope on the new manager?”

What’s the inside information about the new boss?

“Those trainers are dope!”

Those shoes are really cool!

Common Patterns

smoke/sell/buy dope → use or deal drugs, especially marijuana

dope dealer → someone who sells illegal drugs

on dope → under the influence of drugs

dope test → test for illegal substances, especially in sports

the dope on [something/someone] → the inside information about

give someone the dope → provide inside information

a dope → a stupid or foolish person

what a dope! → exclamation about someone’s stupidity

dope someone/something → give drugs to a person or animal

be doped → be given drugs without knowledge

dope a horse/athlete → illegally drug for competition

that’s dope → that’s excellent/cool

dope music/style/outfit → excellent music/style/clothing

pretty/really/so dope → quite/very/extremely cool

Collocations

3 collocations

straight dope

the honest and accurate information

dope out

figure out a solution

feel like a dope

feel stupid or foolish

Example Sentences

12 examples

1

He was arrested for selling dope outside the school

He was taken into custody for dealing illegal substances near the educational institution.

2

What’s the dope on the company restructure? Is anyone getting fired?

What’s the inside information about the business reorganisation? Is anybody losing their job?

3

I felt like such a dope when I realised I’d been waiting at the wrong restaurant

I felt like such a fool when I discovered I’d been sitting at the incorrect eating establishment.

4

Someone had doped her drink at the party

Somebody had put drugs in her beverage at the gathering.

5

The horse was doped before the race and later disqualified

The animal was given illegal substances before the competition and subsequently removed from the results.

6

That new album is so dope — I’ve listened to it five times already

That new music collection is really excellent — I’ve played it through on five occasions already.

7

Your jacket is dope! Where did you get it?

Your coat is amazing! Where did you buy it?

8

The athlete failed a dope test and was banned for two years

The sportsperson didn’t pass a drug examination and was forbidden from competing for twenty-four months.

9

She gave me the dope on which professors to avoid

She provided me with insider knowledge about which lecturers to stay away from.

10

Don’t be a dope — of course she likes you!

Don’t be an idiot — obviously she’s attracted to you!

Learner Examples

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I felt like a complete dope when I mispronounced a simple word in front of the whole class

I felt like a total fool when I said a basic term incorrectly in front of all my classmates.

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Students often think slang like “dope” makes them sound native, but using it incorrectly can have the opposite effect

Learners frequently believe informal words like this make them sound like first-language speakers, but misusing them can create the reverse impression.