Sinking
ˈsɪŋkɪŋ
Definitions
4 meaningsTo fall or descend to the bottom of a liquid or soft surface.
ˈsɪŋkɪŋ
To descend or cause to descend below the surface of a liquid or soft substance.
The Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean.
💡 Simply: Imagine dropping a toy in the bathtub and watching it go down. That's sinking! It's like going under.
👶 For kids: Going down into the water or ground.
More Examples
The diver watched the treasure chest sink to the seabed.
The mud quickly sank under his weight.
The sun is slowly sinking below the horizon.
How It's Used
"The ship is sinking rapidly."
"They are sinking pilings to stabilize the foundation."
To become less in value, strength, or degree.
ˈsɪŋkɪŋ
To decrease in value, strength, or intensity.
The stock market is sinking.
💡 Simply: Imagine your energy getting lower as the day goes on, that is like your energy sinking.
👶 For kids: Getting smaller or less.
More Examples
His morale sank after his defeat.
The temperature is sinking at night.
The country's economy is sinking.
How It's Used
"The company's profits are sinking due to the recession."
"Her spirits were sinking after receiving the bad news."
To create a hole by digging.
ˈsɪŋkɪŋ
To dig a well or other hole in the ground.
The workers are sinking the well.
💡 Simply: Picture digging a deep hole in the ground, like to plant a tree or build a well. That is like sinking something into the earth.
👶 For kids: To dig a hole.
More Examples
They spent months sinking a new mine shaft.
They are sinking the posts deep into the ground.
They're sinking the piles to build the bridge.
How It's Used
"They are sinking a new shaft in the mine."
"Workers are sinking foundation pilings into the ground."
In the process of going down.
ˈsɪŋkɪŋ
In the process of descending.
The sinking ship sent a distress call.
💡 Simply: If you're going down into the water, or if you feel like you're getting a bad feeling, that's sinking.
👶 For kids: Going down.
More Examples
She had a sinking feeling about the exam.
The sinking sun cast long shadows across the water.
He felt a sinking despair wash over him.
How It's Used
"A sinking feeling overcame her."
"The sinking sun cast long shadows."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
sinking fund
A fund established by a company to retire debt or preferred stock.
"The company established a sinking fund to repurchase its bonds."
sinking feeling
A feeling of dread or foreboding.
"I had a sinking feeling when I saw the email from my boss."
From Old English *sincan* (to sink), from Proto-Germanic *senkwaną*, from Proto-Indo-European *sengʷʰ-* (to sink).
Used since Old English, referring primarily to descending into a liquid, though metaphorical uses have existed for centuries.
Memory tip
Think of a boat going down in the water.
Word Origin
"to cause to sink; to submerge"