noun

gunk

guhngk

Gunk (noun) means any sticky, dirty, or unidentifiable substance. Example: “There was a layer of gunk stuck to the bottom of the pan.”

noun

Any sticky, dirty, or unidentifiable substance.

"There was a layer of gunk stuck to the bottom of the pan."

"He wiped the gunk off his shoes after the hike."

verb

To make dirty or clog with a sticky substance.

"Old oil had gunked up the engine."

How to use gunk

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA vague, informal word for grime or a messy, sticky substance.

When to use it

Casual and informal — used in everyday speech, not technical writing.

Common pairings

gunk up sticky gunk layer of gunk

gunked past tense, gunks plural, gunks singular

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Can you complete this real example?

There was a layer of _____ stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Originally from Gunk, a trademarked name for a liquid soap product, likely blending "grime" and "funk".

goo sludge slime goop muck ooze guck

money max dirt MUD leak heroin bleed sewage

bunk junk funk punk dunk hunk Munk drunk skunk trunk chunk spunk

What does “gunk” mean?

The word “gunk” means any sticky, dirty, or unidentifiable substance. In plain terms, a vague, informal word for grime or a messy, sticky substance.

How do you pronounce “gunk”?

“Gunk” is pronounced guhngk (/ɡʌŋk/ in IPA).

How do you use “gunk” in a sentence?

Here is “gunk” used in a sentence: “There was a layer of gunk stuck to the bottom of the pan.”

What part of speech is “gunk”?

Depending on how it is used, “gunk” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “gunk” have?

“Gunk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: any sticky, dirty, or unidentifiable substance.

money max dirt MUD leak heroin bleed sewage