verb
stank
STANGK
Stank (verb) means past tense of stink; smelled bad. Example: “The locker room stank of sweat after the game.”
verb
1
Past tense of stink; smelled bad.
"The locker room stank of sweat after the game."
"His old trainers stank so badly nobody would sit near him."
noun
1
A pool of water held back by a small dam or bank, or the bank itself.
"Farmers built a stank across the ditch to trap rainwater for the cattle."
2
Slang for a distinctive, gritty groove or feel in music, especially jazz or funk, created by dissonant chords and a strong rhythmic pocket.
"The bassline had so much stank the whole room started moving."
How to use stank
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMostly used today as the old-fashioned past tense of "stink" (it stank), or as slang for a deep, funky groove in music.
Common mistake
Standard modern English uses "stank" or "stunk" as the past tense of stink ("it stank" is fine; "it has stunk" is the past participle) — don't use "stanked."
Common pairings
it stank of
stank up the room
that bassline has stank
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Word forms
- Plural
- stanks
- Third person singular
- stanks
- Past tense
- stanked
- Comparative
- more stank
- Superlative
- most stank
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The locker room _____ of sweat after the game.
Etymology
A dialect respelling of "stink," from a regional pronunciation pattern where "i" shifts toward "a." The music sense is a modern slang extension — a groove so raw it practically has a smell.
Rhymes for stank
See all rhymes for stank →Frequently asked questions
What does “stank” mean?
The word “stank” means past tense of stink; smelled bad. In plain terms, mostly used today as the old-fashioned past tense of "stink" (it stank), or as slang for a deep, funky groove in music.
How do you pronounce “stank”?
“Stank” is pronounced STANGK (/ˈsteɪ̯ŋk/ in IPA).
How do you use “stank” in a sentence?
Here is “stank” used in a sentence: “The locker room stank of sweat after the game.”
What part of speech is “stank”?
Depending on how it is used, “stank” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “stank” have?
“Stank” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: past tense of stink; smelled bad.
