sink

[ singk ]

/ sɪŋk /

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See synonyms for: sink / sank / sinking / sunken on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), sank

[sangk] /sæŋk/ or, often, sunk

[suhngk]; /sʌŋk/; sunk; sink·ing.

to displace part of the volume of a supporting substance or object and become totally or partially submerged or enveloped; fall or descend into or below the surface or to the bottom (often followed by in or into): The battleship sank within two hours. His foot sank in the mud. Her head sinks into the pillows.

to fall, drop, or descend gradually to a lower level: The river sank two feet during the dry spell.

to settle or fall gradually, as a heavy structure: The tower is slowly sinking.

to fall or collapse slowly from weakness, fatigue, distress, etc.: He gasped and sank to his knees.

to slope downward; dip: The field sinks toward the highway.

to go down toward or below the horizon: the sun sinks in the west.

to penetrate, permeate, or seep (usually followed by in or into): Wipe the oil off before it sinks into the wood.

to become engulfed or absorbed in or gradually to enter a state (usually followed by in or into): to sink into slumber.

to be or become deeply absorbed or involved in a mood or mental state (usually followed by in or into): sunk in thought. She sank into despair.

to pass or fall into some lower state, as of fortune, estimation, etc.; degenerate: to sink into poverty.

to decline or deteriorate in quality or worth.

to fail in physical strength or health.

to decrease in amount, extent, intensity, etc.: The temperature sank to 30° at noon.

to become lower in volume, tone, or pitch: Her voice sank to a whisper.

to enter or permeate the mind; become known or understood (usually followed by in or into): He said it four times before the words really sank in.

to become concave; become hollow, as the cheeks.

to drop or fall gradually into a lower position: He sank down on the bench.

verb (used with object), sank

[sangk] /sæŋk/ or, often, sunk

[suhngk]; /sʌŋk/; sunk; sink·ing.

to cause to become submerged or enveloped; force into or below the surface; cause to plunge in or down: The submarine sank the battleship. He sank his fist into the pillow.

to cause to fall, drop, or descend gradually.

to cause to penetrate: to sink an ax into a tree trunk.

to lower or depress the level of: They sank the roadway by five feet.

to bury, plant, or lay (a pipe, conduit, etc.) into or as if into the ground.

to dig, bore, or excavate (a hole, shaft, well, etc.).

to bring to a worse or lower state or status.

to bring to utter ruin or collapse: Drinking and gambling sank him completely.

to reduce in amount, extent, intensity, etc.

to lower in volume, tone, or pitch.

to suppress; ignore; omit.

to invest in the hope of making a profit or gaining some other return: He sank all his efforts into the business.

to lose (money) in an unfortunate investment, enterprise, etc.

Sports.

to throw, shoot, hit, or propel (a ball) so that it goes through or into the basket, hole, pocket, etc.: She sank the 10 ball into the side pocket.
to execute (a stroke or throw) so that the ball goes through or into the basket, hole, pocket, etc.: to sink a putt; to sink a free throw.

noun

a basin or receptacle, as in a kitchen or laundry, usually connected with a water supply and drainage system, for washing dishes, clothing, etc.

a low-lying, poorly drained area where waters collect and sink into the ground or evaporate.

sinkhole (def. 2).

a place of vice or corruption.

a drain or sewer.

a device or place for disposing of energy within a system, as a power-consuming device in an electrical circuit or a condenser in a steam engine.

any pond or pit for sewage or waste, as a cesspool or a pool for industrial wastes.

any natural process by which contaminants are removed from the atmosphere.

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Idioms about sink

sink one's teeth into,

to bite deeply or vigorously.
to do or enter into with great enthusiasm, concentration, conviction, etc.: to sink my teeth into solving the problem.

Origin of sink

First recorded before 1000; (verb) Middle English sinken, Old English sincan; cognate with Dutch zinken, German sinken, Old Norse sǫkkva, Gothic singkwan; (noun) late Middle English: “cesspool,” derivative of the verb

OTHER WORDS FROM sink

sink·a·ble, adjectivesinklike, adjectivehalf-sinking, adjectivenon·sink·a·ble, adjective

self-sinking, adjectiveun·sink·a·ble, adjectiveun·sink·ing, adjective

Words nearby sink

sinistrocular, sinistrodextral, sinistrorse, sinistrous, Sinitic, sink, sinkage, sinker, sinkerball, sinkhole, Sinkiang-Uighur Autonomous Region

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sink in a sentence

All the crystals trapped in the folds of the bag land in the sink and can be rinsed away.
Hints From Heloise: Grocery delivery has its pros and cons|Heloise Heloise|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Keep a bottle in your bag, a couple by the kitchen and bathroom sinks, and another on your desk or near wherever you work.
Five tips for taking care of your over-washed hands|Sandra Gutierrez G.|December 20, 2020|Popular-Science
They also consider carbon sinks—the ocean, soils, and vegetation—that absorb a little over half of human-generated carbon dioxide.
The pandemic led to a record drop in carbon emissions|Ula Chrobak|December 16, 2020|Popular-Science
In September, the company told The Post that it had added 150 new safety measures, including portable sinks, thermal cameras and additional janitorial staff, to its facilities during the pandemic.
Workers call on Walmart, Amazon and other retailers to bring back hazard pay ahead of holiday rush|Abha Bhattarai, Christopher Ingraham|November 23, 2020|Washington Post

By that time, heavier and more consistent rain is likely to take over as a cold front sinks into the region.
PM Update: Record highs in the upper 70s today are replaced by rainy weather on Wednesday|Ian Livingston|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
At the same time, the heaviest parts—the main fuselage, the engines and wings—sink to the bottom.
Did Bad Weather Bring Down AirAsia 8501?|Clive Irving|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Within a matter of hours, the vessel that Mooney had crafted began to sink.
Victor Mooney’s Epic Adventure for His Dead Brother|Justin Jones|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And lo and behold, she was determined to sink the mining industry, and we were determined to fight for our community.
‘Pride’: The Feel-Good Movie of the Year, and the Film Rupert Murdoch Doesn’t Want You to See|Marlow Stern|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“It was so opulent that no one ever thought it would sink, then boom—it was gone,” says Conway.
The Ghost Hotels of the Catskills|Brandon Presser|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was stuck between the sink and the stove, which I thought was fantastic!
Julianna Margulies's Favorite 'The Good Wife' Scenes|Julianna Margulies|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If it continues the same we can continue to sink 20 fathoms per month, exclusive of the time it will take to fix the lifts.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
She had looked into the kitchen and saw the dishes in the sink and the gaping stove hearth, and shook her head.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn|Margaret Penrose
Such a clique of professional friends would sink a stronger man than Trevithick.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
His gunners pelted the unwieldy budgerows with round shot until they began to sink.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Baroudi now let himself sink down a little, and rested his cheek upon his hand.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for sink

sink

/ (sɪŋk) /

verb sinks, sinking, sank, sunk or sunken

to descend or cause to descend, esp beneath the surface of a liquid or soft substance

(intr) to appear to move down towards or descend below the horizon

(intr) to slope downwards; dip

(intr; often foll by in or into) to pass into or gradually enter a specified lower state or conditionto sink into apathy

to make or become lower in volume, pitch, etc

to make or become lower in value, price, etc

(intr) to become weaker in health, strength, etc

to decline or cause to decline in moral value, worth, etc

(intr) to seep or penetrate

(tr) to suppress or concealhe sank his worries in drink

(tr) to dig, cut, drill, bore, or excavate (a hole, shaft, etc)

(tr) to drive into the groundto sink a stake

(tr; usually foll by in or into)

to invest (money)
to lose (money) in an unwise or unfortunate investment

(tr) to pay (a debt)

(intr) to become hollow; cave inhis cheeks had sunk during his illness

(tr) to hit, throw, or propel (a ball) into a hole, basket, pocket, etche sank a 15-foot putt

(tr) British informal to drink, esp quicklyhe sank three pints in half an hour

sink or swim to take risks where the alternatives are loss and failure or security and success

noun

a fixed basin, esp in a kitchen, made of stone, earthenware, metal, etc, used for washing

See sinkhole

another word for cesspool

a place of vice or corruption

an area of ground below that of the surrounding land, where water collects

physics a device or part of a system at which energy is removed from the systema heat sink

adjective

informal (of a housing estate or school) deprived or having low standards of achievement

Derived forms of sink

sinkable, adjective

Word Origin for sink

Old English sincan; related to Old Norse sökkva to sink, Gothic siggan, Old High German sincan, Swedish sjunka

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for sink

sink

[ sĭngk ]

A part of the physical environment, or more generally any physical system, that absorbs some form of matter or energy. For example, a forest acts as a sink for carbon dioxide because it absorbs more of the gas in photosynthesis than it releases in respiration. Coral reefs are a long-lasting sink for carbon, which they sequester in their skeletons in the form of calcium carbonate.

Geology

See playa.
See sinkhole.
A circular depression on the flank of a volcano, caused by the collapse of a volcanic wall.

Other Idioms and Phrases with sink

sink

In addition to the idioms beginning with sink

sink in
sinking feeling, a
sink one's teeth into
sink or swim
sink through the floor

also see:

desert a sinking ship
enough to sink a ship
everything but the kitchen sink
heart sinks

sink

Idioms about sink

Origin of sink

OTHER WORDS FROM sink

Words nearby sink

Words related to sink

How to use sink in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sink

Derived forms of sink

Word Origin for sink

Scientific definitions for sink

Other Idioms and Phrases with sink