dunk
Americanverb (used with object)
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dunks,
present (3rd person singular)
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dunked,
past participle, past
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dunking
present participle
-
to dip (a doughnut, cake, etc.) into coffee, milk, or the like, before eating.
-
to submerge in a liquid.
She dunked the curtains in the dye.
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Basketball. to attempt to thrust (a ball) through the basket using a dunk shot.
verb (used without object)
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dunks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dunked,
past participle, past
-
dunking
present participle
-
to dip or submerge something, oneself, etc., in a liquid.
She thinks it's vulgar to dunk. Let's dunk in the pool before dinner.
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Basketball. to execute or attempt a dunk shot.
noun
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dunks
plural
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any flavorful sauce, dip, gravy, etc., into which portions of food are dipped before eating.
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Basketball. dunk shot.
verb
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to dip (bread, etc) in tea, soup, etc, before eating
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to submerge or be submerged in liquid
Usage
What does dunk mean? Dunk means to dip or submerge something in liquid or something like a liquid. More specifically, it can refer to dipping foods into liquids or sauces or dips, like dunking a doughnut into coffee before eating it (but not for so long that it gets too soggy and part of it falls in—it’s a delicate process). In basketball, to dunk is to put the ball directly into the hoop, especially forcefully (this kind of dunking is the opposite of delicate). Such a shot is called a dunk or a slam-dunk or a slam or a jam or a stuff or a throw-down (or even more colorful names, if you’re Darryl Dawkins). Example: I like to dunk my fries into the milkshake—don’t knock it till you try it.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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dunksimple
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dunkssimple
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have dunkedperfect
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has dunkedperfect
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am dunkingprogressive
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are dunkingprogressive
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is dunkingprogressive
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have been dunkingperfect progressive
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has been dunkingperfect progressive
Past
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dunkedsimple
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had dunkedperfect
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was dunkingprogressive
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were dunkingprogressive
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had been dunkingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dunk
An Americanism first recorded in 1865–70; from Pennsylvania Dutch dunke “to dip, immerse”; compare German tunken, Middle High German dunken, tunken, Old High German thunkōn, dunkōn
Vocabulary lists containing dunk
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They got the dunk tank, and they threw this party, and they found a way through fun to attract their community back out into the sun together.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
I'm learning to breathe properly, dunk my head under and let the water carry me, rather than fight against it.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
When the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit last December to halt the project, the press corps pushed the litigation as a slam dunk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
So the goal isn’t always to maximally dunk on somebody.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
With the world’s help, it’s practically a slam dunk.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
The high-flying wing’s growth this offseason caught the attention of his teammates, who are eager to throw him lobs for dunks and see him sky for rebounds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
He installed himself courtside, the Windows Clippy among the die-hards, leaping from his seat after dunks and wiggling like one of those inflatable tubes at a car wash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
He soared for dunks and even swished a 3-pointer from the half-court line.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026
Rioux dunks without jumping, a feat highlighted by his first college field goal against Saint Francis in December 2025 and a memorable March Madness moment in 2026 with an offensive rebound and put-back dunk.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
He dunks the bread in the runny yolks and gobbles it down.
From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
In went the torn sourdough, which I thoroughly dunked in the custard, followed by crisped bacon, a small drizzle of bacon fat — sue me — cheddar, roasted peppers and minced onion.
From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026
Olivier Rioux, of the Florida Gators, dunked late on as his side beat Saint Francis 102-61 on Wednesday.
From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2025
He made 142 3-pointers last season, and he dunked only 91 times.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 16, 2025
Brownell drained a three on the next possession, and Cofie dunked to cap off the run and give the Trojans their first double-digit lead of the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2025
Then I dunked my head in it, right up to the ears.
From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger
It’s not quite dunking, but it’s like you have to play to the algorithm.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
But the dunking spawned the legend of the "Curse of the Colonel" that said the Tigers would never win another title until the effigy was recovered.
From Barron's ● Dec. 3, 2025
“It’s kind of like watching LeBron still dunking at 40,” Maynard said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2025
He starts each morning by folding his hands in prayer, dunking his face in a sink full of ice water afterward.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2025
Now I’m imagining dunking caramel cake in the caramel fountain, and my brain might explode.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
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