Sank Sink Sunk I Sinking Ship Sɪŋk Bottom

• the ship sank to the bottom of the sea.
• the submarine sank after an explosion.
• we're sinking!
• the wheels started to sink into the mud.

sink

Verb Forms

1. to go down below the surface or towards the bottom of a liquid or soft substance
• The ship sank to the bottom of the sea.
• The submarine sank after an explosion.
• We're sinking!
• The wheels started to sink into the mud.
• The little boat sank beneath the waves.

Extra Examples

• It seemed as though the ship had sunk without trace.
• Duane was in waist-deep and sinking fast.
• He sank up to his knees in the mud.
• Our feet sank deep into the soft sand as we walked.
2. to damage a boat or ship so that it goes below the surface of the sea, etc.
• The battleship was sunk by a torpedo.
• Bombs sank all four carriers.
• Five brothers all died when their ship was sunk.
3. to move downwards, especially by falling or sitting down
• SYNONYM collapse
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/collapse_2
• I sank into an armchair.
• She sank back into her seat, exhausted.
• The old man had sunk to his knees.

Extra Examples

• He sank lower into his chair.
• I sank gratefully into the warm, dry bed.
• She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet.
• She sank to the ground, exhausted.
4. to move slowly downwards
• The sun was sinking in the west.
• The sun had sunk below the horizon.
• The foundations of the building are starting to sink.
5. to decrease in amount, volume, strength, etc.
• The pound has sunk to its lowest recorded level against the dollar.
• He is clearly sinking fast (= getting weaker quickly and will soon die).

Extra Examples

• The project gradually sank into oblivion.
• The airline industry is sinking under the weight of its losses.
6. to become quieter
• SYNONYM fade
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/fade
• Her voice sank to a whisper.
7. to make a deep hole in the ground
• to sink a well/shaft/mine
8. to place something in the ground by digging
• SEE ALSO sunken
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/sunken
• to sink a post into the ground
9. to prevent somebody or somebody’s plans from succeeding
• I think I've just sunk my chances of getting the job.
• If the car breaks down, we'll be sunk (= have serious problems).
10. to hit a ball into a hole in golf or snooker
• He sank a 12-foot putt to win the match.
11. to drink something quickly, especially a large amount of alcohol
• They sank three pints each in 10 minutes.
12. to be in a state of unhappiness or deep thought
• She just sat there, sunk in thought.
13. used to talk about people who leave an organization, a company, etc. that is having difficulties, without caring about the people who are left
14. used to say that somebody suddenly feels sad or depressed about something
• My heart sank when I saw how much work there was left.
• She watched him go with a sinking heart.
15. to agree to forget about your disagreements
• We need to sink our differences and present a united opposition to the plan.
16. an unpleasant feeling that you get when you realize that something bad has happened or is going to happen
• I had a horrible sinking feeling when I saw the ambulance outside the house.
17. to be in a situation where you will either succeed by your own efforts or fail completely
• The new students were just left to sink or swim.
• In a situation like this, you either sink or swim.
18. to have such low moral standards that you do something very bad
• Stealing from your friends? How could you sink so low?
• I can't believe that anyone would sink to such depths.
• With this article the newspaper has sunk to a new low.
19. to behave in a worse way than ever before
• The government has stooped to an all-time low with this policy.
• Reality TV has sunk to new lows.

Word Origin

• verb Old English sincan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zinken and German sinken.