sunken
Americanadjective
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having sunk or been sunk beneath the surface; submerged.
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having settled to a lower level, as walls.
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situated or lying on a lower level.
a sunken living room.
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hollow; depressed.
sunken cheeks.
verb
verb
adjective
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unhealthily hollow
sunken cheeks
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situated at a lower level than the surrounding or usual one
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situated under water; submerged
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depressed; low
sunken spirits
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sunken
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, past participle of sinken to sink
Explanation
If something is sunken, it's caved in, inwardly curved, or under water. If a pirate talks about sunken treasure, he probably means that the treasure chest in a ship that's at the bottom of the ocean. If a realtor is describing a house's sunken living room, she's talking about a room that sits lower than surrounding rooms do. A sunken garden is situated lower and deeper than the rest of your yard. Sunken eyes can be caused by age, exhaustion, or dehydration. The adjective sunken is formed from the past participle of the verb sink, "go under."
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 1920s, a handful of homes in San Pedro slid into the ocean, creating what’s now known as the Sunken City.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 13, 2023
In a way, this revised meaning reflects the journey of the flamingos’ plastic avatar, which is perhaps another reason why the Sunken Gardens photo struck such a chord.
From Slate • Oct. 4, 2022
That was the tweet from Sunken Gardens, a botanic attraction in St. Petersburg, Florida.
From Washington Times • Sep. 28, 2022
There will be two below-grade outdoor spaces, the Sunken Garden and the Vestige Garden.
From New York Times • Sep. 7, 2022
LXI How another Magician is Sunken up to the Ears, and again is Raised up.
From The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings by O'Leary, James
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
