1
2
3
a
: to soak or become absorbed : penetrate
b
: to become impressively known or felt
the lesson had sunk in
4
: to become deeply absorbed
sank into reverie
5
a
: to go downward in quality, state, or condition
b
: to grow less in amount or worth
6
a
: to fall or drop slowly for lack of strength
b
: to become depressed
c
: to fail in health or strength
broadly
: fail
1
a
: to cause to sink
sink a battleship
b
: to force down especially below the earth's surface
c
: to cause (something) to penetrate
3
a
: to dig or bore (a well or shaft) in the earth : excavate
b
: to form by cutting or excising
sink words in stone
5
: to lower in standing or reputation : abase
6
a
: to lessen in value or amount
b
: to lower or soften (the voice) in speaking
8
: to pay off (something, such as a debt) : liquidate
10
: drop sense 7c
sink a putt
sink a jump shot
11
chiefly British
: to drink down completely
plural sinks
1
2
: a place where vice, corruption, or evil collects
3
4
a
: a depression in the land surface
especially
: one having a saline lake with no outlet
b
: sinkhole
5
: a body or process that acts as a storage device or disposal mechanism: such as
a
: heat sink
broadly
: a device that collects or dissipates energy (such as radiation)
b
: a reactant with or absorber of a substance
The oceans are a major sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).—
Andrew J. Watson et al.
see also carbon sink
Andrew J. Watson et al.Synonyms
Examples of sink in a Sentence
Verb
The passengers were rescued from the boat before it sank.
The rock sank to the bottom of the pool.
My foot sank into the deep mud.
She sank up to her knees in the snow.
The torpedo sank the ship.
The sun sank behind the hills.
She sank back into the cozy chair.
The temperature sinks quickly after the sun sets.
The lake's water level is slowly sinking.
His strength is slowly sinking.
Noun
was able to rise above the sink that was his birthplace
Recent Examples on the Web
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024
Kyiv has wielded its Neptune anti-ship missile, successfully sinking Black Sea Fleet flagship the Moskva in the early days of the war.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Mother’s feet sink into the mud, the difference between flesh and earth nearly impossible to distinguish.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
And little wonder: Surveys show that U.S. opinions of China have sunk to an all-time low.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sink 
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
Those losses sank her into a morass of regret and substance use, which spurred a break from the industry to recollect.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024
Kyiv has wielded its Neptune anti-ship missile, successfully sinking Black Sea Fleet flagship the Moskva in the early days of the war.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Mother’s feet sink into the mud, the difference between flesh and earth nearly impossible to distinguish.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
And little wonder: Surveys show that U.S. opinions of China have sunk to an all-time low.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sink
Articles Related to sink
Dictionary Entries Near sink
Cite this Entry
“Sink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sink. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sink
1 of 2 verb1
a
: to move or cause to move downward usually so as to be below the surface or swallowed up
feet sinking into deep mud
sink a ship
b
: to descend gradually lower and lower
the sun sank behind the hills
2
: to lessen in amount or strength
3
: to fall to or into a lower status (as of quality, worth, or number) : decline
sink into decay
4
a
: to penetrate or cause to penetrate
sank my ax into the tree
b
: to become absorbed
the water sank into the dry ground
5
: to form by digging or boring
sink a well
6
: invest entry 2 sense 1
sank a million dollars in the new company
7
: to fail in strength, spirits, or health
my heart sank
sink
2 of 2 noun1
a
: cesspool
b
2
: a stationary basin for washing (as in a kitchen) connected with a drain and usually a water supply
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share