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Synonyms

sink in

British  

verb

  1. (intr, adverb) to enter or penetrate the mind

    eventually the news sank in

"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

sink in Idioms  
  1. Penetrate the mind, be absorbed, as in The news of the crash didn't sink in right away. [Late 1300s]


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:

For Waldrop’s half-brothers, Charles and Julian, the sermons never quite sink in.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 28, 2026

Even after being cast, Alaska said it didn’t fully sink in until she began doing press for the production.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 30, 2026

By adjusting their size, the larvae can change their buoyancy and control whether they rise or sink in the lake.

From Science Daily Jul. 27, 2026

Anthony Joshua says he is not ready for the loss of his two close friends and team members to "sink in yet" as he prepares for his first fight since their death.

From BBC Jul. 22, 2026

Next to the desk is a tiny round metal sink; in the corner is a closet full of shelves with a clear plastic curtain serving as a door.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

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