sunk

American  

[suhngk] / sʌŋk /

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of sink.

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adjective

1. Informal. beyond help; done for; washed up.

   If they catch you cheating, you're really sunk.

2. Nautical. (of a forecastle or poop) raised less than a full deck above the weather deck of a ship.

sunk British  

/ sʌŋk /

verb

1. a past participle of sink

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adjective

1. informal with all hopes dashed; ruined

   if the police come while we're opening the safe, we'll be sunk

Other Word Forms

• half-sunk adjective
• unsunk adjective

Etymology

Origin of sunk

First recorded in 1925–30 sunk for def. 2

Compare meaning

How does sunk compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• sank vs. sunk

Example Sentences

Sri Lanka is repatriating on Friday the remains of 84 Iranian sailors who perished when their frigate was sunk nine days ago by a US submarine, the Foreign Ministry said.

From Barron's

Recounting a discussion with a military official, the president said he had questioned why Iranian ships were sunk rather than seized.

From Barron's

U.S. military officials say they have greatly reduced Iran’s ability to launch ballistic missiles and have sunk much of the country’s navy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sri Lanka discharged 22 Iranian crew from hospital who were plucked from life rafts after their warship was sunk by a US submarine, officials said Sunday.

From Barron's

The frigate was sunk by a US submarine on Wednesday just off Sri Lanka's southern coast.

From Barron's

Related Words

• desperate
• forlorn
• helpless
• impossible
• pointless
• sad
• tragic
• useless