coke

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈkōk How to pronounce coke (audio)
: the residue of coal left after destructive distillation and used as fuel
also : a similar residue left by other materials (such as petroleum) distilled to dryness

coke

2 of 4

verb

coked; coking

transitive verb

: to change into coke

intransitive verb

: to become coke or like coke

coke

3 of 4

noun (2)

: cocaine

Coke

4 of 4

trademark

ˈkōk How to pronounce Coke (audio)
—used for a cola drink

Examples of coke in a Sentence

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
The only people who benefited from me changing those lyrics was my coke dealer at the time. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026 Some community members and advocacy groups hoped air quality would improve after the coke plant was sold. — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
This is the place where iconic musicians have checked in, coked up, wrote music, broke the rules, and bonded for decades. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026 The city also hosted Ukraine’s last operating coking coal mine, but it was forced to shut down early this year. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for coke

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

perhaps from dialect coke, colk core, from Middle English; akin to Swedish kälk pith

Noun (2)

by shortening & alteration

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1669, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1804, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coke was in 1669

Rhymes for coke

See All Rhymes for coke

Browse Nearby Words

cojuror
coke
Coke
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coke. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

coke

1 of 3 noun
ˈkōk How to pronounce coke (audio)
: gray lumps of fuel with pores made by heating soft coal in a closed chamber until some of its gases have passed off

coke

2 of 3 noun
: cocaine

Coke

3 of 3 trademark
ˈkōk How to pronounce Coke (audio)
—used for a cola drink

Biographical Definition

Coke

biographical name

ˈku̇k How to pronounce Coke (audio) ˈkōk How to pronounce Coke (audio)
Sir Edward 1552–1634 Lord Coke English jurist

More from Merriam-Webster on coke

Nglish: Translation of coke for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coke

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