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. 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 Word Forms

• half-sunk adjective
• unsunk adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sunk¹

First recorded in 1925–30 sunk for def. 2

Example Sentences

Relations between Ivory Coast and military-ruled Burkina Faso have sunk to a low, each government accusing the other of destabilisation.

Read more on Barron's

Narco-subs have become a popular way to transport drugs as they can go largely undetected, and can be sunk after delivery.

Read more on BBC

A historic Clydebuilt sailing ship has been towed out to sea off the coast of Hawaii and deliberately sunk, prompting outrage from maritime conservation groups.

Read more on BBC

By one measure External link, these local rebellions have sunk or delayed tens of billions of dollars worth of potential data center projects.

Read more on Barron's

By one measure External link, these local rebellions have sunk or delayed tens of billions of dollars worth of potential data center projects.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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