26984 words

sink

14 definitions • 29 examples
1
to (cause something or someone to) go down below the surface or to the bottom of a liquid or soft substance:

Examples:

The Titanic was a passenger ship which sank (to the bottom of the ocean) in 1912.
The legs of the garden chair sank into the soft ground.
The dog sank her teeth into (= bit) the ball and ran off with it.
2
to (cause something or someone to) fall or move to a lower level:

Examples:

The sun glowed red as it sank slowly below the horizon.
Student numbers have sunk considerably this year.
UK informal We sank (= drank) a bottle of wine each last night.
The wounded soldier sank (= fell) to the ground.
She sank back in her chair and closed her eyes.
He sank into deep despair (= became very unhappy) when he lost his job.
3
to hit a ball into a hole or pocket, especially in golf or snooker
4
to dig a hole in the ground, or to put something into a hole dug into the ground:

Examples:

Sinking more wells is the best way of supplying the population with clean drinking water.
The first stage of building the fence is sinking the posts into the ground.
5
to cause something to fail or be in trouble:

Examples:

This rain could sink our plans for the barbecue.
6
a bowl that is attached to the wall in a kitchen or bathroom in which you wash dishes or your hands, etc.:

Examples:

a bathroom/kitchen sink
7
to move below the surface of water:

Examples:

[ I ] The boat filled with water and began to sink.
[ T ] It isn’t clear exactly what sank the ship.
8
to fall or move to a lower level:

Examples:

[ I ] The sun sank slowly below the horizon.
[ I ] Exhausted after the race, she sank to the ground.
[ I ] My feet sink into the sand with every step.
[ I ] Gasoline prices sank last year.
[ I ] Relations between the countries have sunk to a new low.
9
To sink a ball is to hit it into a hole, as in golf and pool, or throw it through a hoop (= ring with a net) in basketball.
10
People or animals who sink their teeth into something bite hard:

Examples:

I sank my teeth into the sandwich.
11
to cause something to fail:

Examples:

I thought these issues would sink his career.
12
a container for water in a kitchen or bathroom used for washing and connected to pipes that bring and carry off water
13
if prices, profits, shares, etc. sink, they fall to a lower level:

Examples:

Bond prices sank and stocks rose today.
sink to sth The dollar sank to a record low against the euro.
Shares sank 3% Wednesday to close at $39.35.
14
to go under, or cause something to go under, the surface of the water:

Examples:

The tanker sank off the coast of Alaska.
The explosion sank the ship in 300 feet of water.

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