Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To cause to be asleep. Often used with out.
  • intransitive verb To stupefy or intoxicate with drugs or alcohol.
  • intransitive verb To go to sleep or be asleep. Often used with out.
  • intransitive verb To become intoxicated with drugs or alcohol.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An unfavorable card or token, or undesirable or worthless item used as a prize in a contest or game show (such as Let's Make a Deal).
  • noun slang A feeling of a drug taking hold.
  • verb transitive To make (someone) sleepy or delirious.
  • verb intransitive, usually followed by “out” To become exhausted, sleepy or delirious.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Origin unknown.]

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Examples

  • But now, waking up from The Obama Show is like being on "Let's Make a Deal" and trading in your winning prize hidden under box number 1 for the "zonk" behind curtain number 2.

    American Thinker 2010

  • Although he's found that some players are less willing to risk losing prize money in the current economy, he's equally surprised by how many gamble on the tantalizing possibility of a valuable prize versus the risk of a "zonk," something silly and worthless.

    unknown title 2009

  • Although he's found that some players are less willing to risk losing prize money in the current economy, he's equally surprised by how many gamble on the tantalizing possibility of a valuable prize versus the risk of a "zonk," something silly and worthless.

    Brandon Sun Online - Top Stories 2009

  • Although he's found that some players are less willing to risk losing prize money in the current economy, he's equally surprised by how many gamble on the tantalizing possibility of a valuable prize versus the risk of a "zonk," something silly and worthless.

    Brandon Sun Online - Top Stories 2009

  • Although he's found that some players are less willing to risk losing prize money in the current economy, he's equally surprised by how many gamble on the tantalizing possibility of a valuable prize versus the risk of a "zonk," something silly and worthless.

    WCAX - Local News 2009

  • Although he's found that some players are less willing to risk losing prize money in the current economy, he's equally surprised by how many gamble on the tantalizing possibility of a valuable prize versus the risk of a "zonk," something silly and worthless.

    unknown title 2009

  • Although he's found that some players are less willing to risk losing prize money in the current economy, he's equally surprised by how many gamble on the tantalizing possibility of a valuable prize versus the risk of a "zonk," something silly and worthless.

    Rocky Mount Telegram - Business 2009

  • While she is in school or on play dates, I will give myself time to zonk out, if I need to.

    Hollye Harrington Jacobs: Talking With Children About Chemotherapy Hollye Harrington Jacobs 2011

  • While she is in school or on play dates, I will give myself time to zonk out, if I need to.

    Hollye Harrington Jacobs: Talking With Children About Chemotherapy Hollye Harrington Jacobs 2011

  • While she is in school or on play dates, I will give myself time to zonk out, if I need to.

    Hollye Harrington Jacobs: Talking With Children About Chemotherapy Hollye Harrington Jacobs 2011

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