adj
Uncommon
sunken
SUHNG-kuhn
Sunken (adj) means Pushed down below the surrounding surface, or dragged underwater. Example: “Divers found a sunken ship off the coast of Florida.”
adj
1
Pushed down below the surrounding surface, or dragged underwater.
"Divers found a sunken ship off the coast of Florida."
"The garden had a sunken patio a few steps below the lawn."
2
Looking hollow or drawn in, especially around the eyes or cheeks, from age, illness, or exhaustion.
"After weeks without sleep, his sunken eyes made him look ten years older."
How to use sunken
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLower than everything around it, or hollowed-out looking — used for ships, gardens, and tired faces alike.
Common mistake
Sunken is the adjective form used before a noun (a sunken ship); "sank" and "sunk" are the past tense/participle of the verb "sink" (the ship sank / has sunk).
Common pairings
sunken ship
sunken eyes
sunken garden
sunken treasure
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Divers found a _____ ship off the coast of Florida.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for sunken
See all rhymes for sunken →Frequently asked questions
What does “sunken” mean?
The word “sunken” means pushed down below the surrounding surface, or dragged underwater. In plain terms, lower than everything around it, or hollowed-out looking — used for ships, gardens, and tired faces alike.
How do you pronounce “sunken”?
“Sunken” is pronounced SUHNG-kuhn (/ˈsʌŋkən/ in IPA).
How do you use “sunken” in a sentence?
Here is “sunken” used in a sentence: “Divers found a sunken ship off the coast of Florida.”
What part of speech is “sunken”?
“Sunken” is an adjective.
Is “sunken” a common word?
“Sunken” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sunken” have?
“Sunken” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: pushed down below the surrounding surface, or dragged underwater.
