dunk
4 synonyms for dunk, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To dip something briefly into a liquid.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use dunk
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dunk a biscuit
slam dunk
dunk the ball
Etymology
From Pennsylvania German dunke, tracing back to Old High German dunkōn, "to dip" — the same root family that gave English "tint" and "tincture."
Full origin of dunk →Frequently asked questions
What does “dunk” mean?
The word “dunk” means to dip something briefly into a liquid. In plain terms, to dip something in liquid, or to slam a basketball through the hoop.
How do you pronounce “dunk”?
“Dunk” is pronounced duhngk (/dʌŋk/ in IPA).
How do you use “dunk” in a sentence?
Here is “dunk” used in a sentence: “She loves to dunk her biscuits in tea.”
What part of speech is “dunk”?
Depending on how it is used, “dunk” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “dunk” come from?
The word “dunk” comes from German. From Pennsylvania German dunke, tracing back to Old High German dunkōn, "to dip" — the same root family that gave English "tint" and "tincture.".
Is “dunk” a common word?
“Dunk” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dunk” have?
“Dunk” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to dip something briefly into a liquid.
What is the difference between a dunk and a slam dunk?
A dunk in basketball refers to any shot where a player slams the ball down through the hoop while holding the rim, while slam dunk is often used interchangeably or to emphasize a particularly forceful or dramatic dunk.
Can dunk be used outside of basketball?
Yes, dunk is commonly used in everyday contexts to describe dipping something briefly into a liquid, such as dunking a biscuit in tea or dunking bread in soup.
Is dunk used as both a noun and a verb?
Yes, dunk works as a verb meaning to dip something into liquid or to slam a basketball through the hoop, and as a noun referring to the act itself, especially a basketball slam dunk.
