sunken
Americanadjective
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having sunk or been sunk beneath the surface; submerged.
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having settled to a lower level, as walls.
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situated or lying on a lower level.
a sunken living room.
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hollow; depressed.
sunken cheeks.
verb
verb
adjective
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unhealthily hollow
sunken cheeks
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situated at a lower level than the surrounding or usual one
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situated under water; submerged
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depressed; low
sunken spirits
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sunken
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, past participle of sinken to sink
Explanation
If something is sunken, it's caved in, inwardly curved, or under water. If a pirate talks about sunken treasure, he probably means that the treasure chest in a ship that's at the bottom of the ocean. If a realtor is describing a house's sunken living room, she's talking about a room that sits lower than surrounding rooms do. A sunken garden is situated lower and deeper than the rest of your yard. Sunken eyes can be caused by age, exhaustion, or dehydration. The adjective sunken is formed from the past participle of the verb sink, "go under."
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.
The San Francisco Police Department is working with the state Office of Emergency Services to locate the sunken boat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
One of the home’s more fascinating features is a sunken conversation pit lined with sumptuous sofas in the living room.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
Nearby, 65-year-old Juana Alfonzo still moves around her home, even though the floor is sunken and cracked, and the columns show visible damage.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
The twins developed severe symptoms, including blue lips, lethargy, diarrhea, and sunken eyes, according to the civil suit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
They discovered two gold bracelets that had been aboard the sunken ship.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
