slink

American  

[slingk] / slɪŋk /

verb (used without object)

slunk, slank, slunk, slinking

1. to move or go in a furtive, abject manner, as from fear, cowardice, or shame.

   Synonyms:

   lurk, sneak, skulk

2. to walk or move in a slow, sinuous, provocative way.

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verb (used with object)

slunk, slank, slunk, slinking

1. (especially of cows) to bring forth (young) prematurely.

noun

1. a prematurely born calf or other animal.

adjective

1. born prematurely.

   a slink calf.

slink British  

/ slɪŋk /

verb

1. (intr) to move or act in a furtive or cringing manner from or as if from fear, guilt, etc

2. (intr) to move in a sinuous alluring manner

3. (tr) (of animals, esp cows) to give birth to prematurely

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noun

1. 1. an animal, esp a calf, born prematurely

   2. ( as modifier )

      slink veal

Other Word Forms

• outslink verb (used with object)
• slinkingly adverb
• unslinking adjective

Etymology

Origin of slink

First recorded before 1150; Middle English slynken (verb), Old English slincan “to creep, crawl”; cognate with Low German slinken, German schlinken

Explanation

When you slink, you move in a deliberately quiet and sneaky way. You might slink into your physics class, hoping the teacher won't notice how late you are. Kids playing hide and seek will sometimes slink around the house, quietly searching for good hiding spots, and wild animals tend to slink through the woods or fields when they're stalking prey or trying to avoid becoming prey themselves. Slink comes from the Old English word slincan, "to creep or crawl," which was mostly used to describe the movements of reptiles.

Example Sentences

“It’s a little bit like herding cats sometimes,” Kramer said of keeping volunteers from trying to slink away.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

"I tried to slink away and he was reeling me back," Annie says.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2025

A national punchline, Garvey was forced to slink out of the limelight.

From Slate • May 29, 2024

“Being plainclothes, we could kind of slink around and, you know, do what we had to do,” he said.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2024

She blocked him, and when he tried to slink away in another direction, she restrained him with a heavy paw until he stilled in defeat.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

Related Words

• lurk
• meander
• prowl
• sidle
• skitter
• skulk
• slither
• sneak
• undulate