dunk

1 of 2

verb

ˈdəŋk How to pronounce dunk (audio)
dunked; dunking; dunks
Synonyms of dunknext

transitive verb

1
: to dip (something, such as a piece of bread) into a beverage while eating
2
: to dip or submerge temporarily in liquid
3
: to throw (a basketball) into the basket from above the rim see also dunk on

intransitive verb

1
: to submerge oneself in water
2
: to make a dunk shot in basketball

dunk

2 of 2

noun

: the act or action of dunking
especially : dunk shot

Synonyms

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of dunk in a Sentence

Verb I like to dunk my doughnut in my coffee. She dunked him while they were swimming. He dunked the ladle into the soup. He could dunk when he was 16. Noun The pass led to a dunk.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Listen to this article Coby White doesn’t dunk often. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025 Visage then dunks this very reporter, and points viewers to watch EW's interview with her (which will be up shortly!). — EW.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
Listen to this article The dunk would have been a nice highlight, if Vlatko Cancar had only stuck the landing. — Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2025 Johnson finished with 14 points, three blocks and six rebounds on 6 of 7 shooting, with multiple highlight dunks mixed into his afternoon. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dunk

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Pennsylvania German dunke, from Middle High German dunken, from Old High German dunkōn — more at tinge

First Known Use

Verb

1926, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dunk was in 1926

Phrases Containing dunk

Rhymes for dunk

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Browse Nearby Words

dunk
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Cite this Entry

“Dunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dunk. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

dunk

verb
ˈdəŋk
1
: to dip (as a doughnut) into liquid (as coffee)
2
: to plunge oneself into water

More from Merriam-Webster on dunk

Nglish: Translation of dunk for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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