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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | sincan |
1 to go down below the surface of water, mud etc [≠ float]: 
Their motorboat struck a rock and began to sink.The heavy guns sank up to their barrels in the mud.
in water
[intransitive]Their motorboat struck a rock and began to sink.The heavy guns sank up to their barrels in the mud.2 to damage a ship so badly that it sinks : A luxury yacht was sunk in a bomb attack yesterday.
boat
[transitive]A luxury yacht was sunk in a bomb attack yesterday.3 to move downwards to a lower level : Her chin sank onto her chest, and she looked despairing.
move lower
[intransitive]Her chin sank onto her chest, and she looked despairing.4 to fall down or sit down heavily, especially because you are very tired and weak
fall/sit down
[intransitive] sink into/to/down/back etc She let out a groan and sank into a chair. He let go of her shoulders and she sank at once to the floor. Marion sank down on a rock, and wept.
She let out a groan and sank into a chair.He let go of her shoulders and she sank at once to the floor.Marion sank down on a rock, and wept.5 to gradually get into a worse condition
get worse
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] sink into They lost all their money and sank into desperate poverty. The good mood left me and I sank into depression.
They lost all their money and sank into desperate poverty.The good mood left me and I sank into depression.6 used to say that you lose hope or confidence : His heart sank the way it always did when she left him. She felt desperately tired, and her spirits sank.
your heart sinks
also your spirits sinkHis heart sank the way it always did when she left him.She felt desperately tired, and her spirits sank.7 to go down in amount or value [= drop; ≠ rise]: Shares in the company have sunk as low as 620p.
lower amount/value
[intransitive]Shares in the company have sunk as low as 620p.8 if your voice sinks, it becomes very quiet
voice
[intransitive] written9 the unpleasant feeling that you get when you suddenly realize that something bad is going to happen :
sinking feeling
informal10 to be in a situation where you are certain to fail or have a lot of problems : If I don't get paid by next week, I'll really be sunk.
be sunk
spokenIf I don't get paid by next week, I'll really be sunk.11 if something sinks without trace, it fails quickly or no one pays attention to it : He made a few records which all sank without trace.
sink without trace
especially British English also sink like a stone especially American EnglishHe made a few records which all sank without trace.12 to be dishonest enough or selfish enough to do something very bad or unfair [= stoop]: How could he have sunk so low?
sink so low
also sink to doing somethingHow could he have sunk so low?13 to put your teeth or something sharp into someone's flesh, into food etc
use something sharp
[transitive]14 if you sink something such as a well or part of a building, you dig a hole to put it into the ground :
dig into ground
[transitive]15 to succeed or fail without help from anyone else : They don't give you a lot of guidance - you're just left to sink or swim, really.
sink or swim
They don't give you a lot of guidance - you're just left to sink or swim, really.16 to spend a lot of money on something
money
[transitive]17 to put a ball into a hole or basket in games such as golf or basketball
ball
[transitive]DSG18 to agree to stop arguing and forget about your disagreements, especially in order to unite and oppose someone else : Nations must sink their differences to achieve greater security.
sink your differences
British EnglishNations must sink their differences to achieve greater security.19 to drink alcohol, especially in large quantities : We sank a few pints at the pub first.
drink
[transitive] British English informalWe sank a few pints at the pub first.sink in
phrasal verbHe paused a moment for his words to sink in.The implications of Labour's defeat were beginning to sink in.