Implications of prescription opioid use for outcomes after liver transplantation (LT) have not been described. We integrated national transplant registry data with records from a large pharmaceutical claims clearinghouse (2008‐2014; n = 29,673). Opioid fills on the waiting list were normalized to morphine equivalents (MEs), and exposure was categorized as follows: > 0‐2 ME/day (level 1), > 2‐10 ME/day (level 2), > 10‐70 ME/day (level 3), and >70 ME/day (level 4). Associations (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 95% LCL aHR 95% UCL) of pretransplant ME level with patient and graft survival over 5 years after transplant were quantified by multivariate Cox regression including adjustment for recipient, donor, and transplant factors, as well as propensity adjustment for opioid use. Overall, 9.3% of recipients filled opioids on the waiting list. Compared with no use, level 3 (aHR 1.061.281.55) and 4 (aHR 1.161.521.98) opioid use during listing were associated with increased mortality over 5 years after transplant. These associations were driven by risk after the first transplant anniversary, such that mortality >1‐5 years increased in a graded manner with higher use on the waiting list (level 2, aHR, 1.001.271.62; level 3, aHR, 1.081.381.77; level 4, aHR, 1.492.012.72). Similar patterns occurred for graft failure. Of recipients with the highest level of opioids on the waiting list, 65% had level 3 or 4 use in the first year after transplant, including 55% with use at these levels from day 90‐365 after transplant. Opioid use in the first year after transplant also bore graded associations with subsequent death and graft loss >1‐5 years after transplant. Opioid use history may be relevant in assessing and providing care to LT candidates. Liver Transplantation 23 305–314 2017 AASLD.