sunk

[ suhngk ]

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

/ sʌŋk /

verb

1. See sink
   a past participle of sink

adjective

1. informal.
   with all hopes dashed; ruined

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

Other Words From

• half-sunk adjective
• un·sunk adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sunk¹

First recorded in 1925–30 sunk fordef 2

Example Sentences

And my beloved Zimbabwe has sunk from a promising beacon into an abyss of greed and dictatorship.

From The Daily Beast

Cargo holds are still stocked with munition, though the weaponry sunk with the ships is still considered dangerous.

From The Daily Beast

The Kentucky freshman sunk his third game-winning three-pointer in a row, launching fresh claims about his ‘clutch gene.’

From The Daily Beast

Soros and his fellow Democratic heavyweights sunk millions into ACT, funding anti-Bush advertising and turnout efforts.

From The Daily Beast

But how many of us, thus sunk in despair, have not been vaulted back to equilibrium by another look at Groundhog Day?

From The Daily Beast

He was contemporary with Milton, and preferred before him by critics of the day, but has now sunk into oblivion.

From Project Gutenberg

Alessandro walked at the horses' heads, his face sunk on his breast, his eyes fixed on the ground.

From Project Gutenberg

His search has always hitherto been fruitless, and he has sunk back, disheartened, into the sea.

From Project Gutenberg

Jamestown was for a long time the capital of the state, but has sunk into ruin, and is almost desolate.

From Project Gutenberg

With a low moan her head sunk upon the old man's knee, and she shook and trembled with violent emotion.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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