dunk

American  

[duhngk] / dʌŋk /

verb (used with object)

1. to dip (a doughnut, cake, etc.) into coffee, milk, or the like, before eating.

2. to submerge in a liquid.

   She dunked the curtains in the dye.

3. Basketball. to attempt to thrust (a ball) through the basket using a dunk shot.

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verb (used without object)

1. 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.

2. Basketball. to execute or attempt a dunk shot.

noun

1. any flavorful sauce, dip, gravy, etc., into which portions of food are dipped before eating.

2. Basketball. dunk shot.

dunk British  

/ dʌŋk /

verb

1. to dip (bread, etc) in tea, soup, etc, before eating

2. to submerge or be submerged in liquid

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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

• dunkable adjective
• dunker noun

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

Example Sentences

Bronny, 19, stole possession and passed to LeBron, who ran the length of the court for an uncontested dunk that was part of a 26-point contribution from the 41-year-old.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Doncic’s brilliant March unified the team behind his most valuable player push, his thrilling shot-making and even his smiling dunk against Washington.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

These cases are not a slam dunk for the plaintiffs or defendants on appeal; with so much money at stake, the upcoming battle will be brutal for both.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

The Pistons scored 20 seconds later on a dunk by Jalen Duren.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

It is wedged between rim and backboard, evidence of JB trying and failing to dunk.

From "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander

Related Words

• douse
• soak