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Showing Results for "sunk"
See Also:
  • past tense form of sink.
  • past participle of sink.
Synonyms

sunk

American  
[suhngk] / sʌŋk /

verb

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


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

"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

adjective

  1. informal with all hopes dashed; ruined

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

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of sunk

First recorded in 1925–30 sunk for def. 2

Compare meaning

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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.

In the immediacy of Disney, it sunk in as wondrous reflection on Donne’s line: “Though I speed not, I cannot miss.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

"It hasn't sunk in at all," she added.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Price-conscious consumers and off-trend Old Navy dresses may have sunk Gap’s stock on Friday, but some of the clothing retailer’s most prolonged struggles have been in its smallest and most-overlooked brand: Athleta.

From MarketWatch • May 31, 2026

An Indian-flagged ship carrying livestock from Somalia was reported hit and sunk off Oman on May 13 -- all 14 crew were rescued.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

A quick tinge of revenge sunk under the weight of my pity.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye

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