dunking

American  

[duhng-king] / ˈdʌŋ kɪŋ /

noun

1. the action of plunging or being plunged into water or other liquid.

   Learning to canoe cost her several dunkings.

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Etymology

Origin of dunking

First recorded in 1915–20; dunk + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

I tore through half a bottle in a week—drizzling it over salads, spooning it onto seafood, and, of course, dunking torn-up hunks of crusty French bread.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025

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

Pickleball may be everywhere, but it’s continuing to mature as a serious sport, and Waters is its Michael Jordan—if Michael Jordan was dunking on Naismith’s peach baskets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

“It’s kind of like watching LeBron still dunking at 40,” Maynard said.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2025

I persist, dunking them for longer and longer periods, until the cold finally numbs my blisters.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen