sunk

Everyday

1. Sunk is a form of sink: gone down under water or below a surface, as in the ship had sunk. tree →
2. (informal) If you are sunk, you are in deep trouble with no way out. tree →
3. Sunk is used for things set lower, as in sunk into the sofa. tree →

In the lessons

In history and stories: the Titanic sank in 1912 and lies sunk on the sea bed; pirate ships are sunk. In science, objects that are denser than water sink. In the game Battleships you say You sunk my battleship. In everyday talk, If we miss the bus, we're sunk.

Examples

• The ship had sunk before help arrived. tree →
• The treasure lay in a sunk ship. tree →
• My heart sank when I saw the score, and it has sunk lower since. tree →
• If we lose the key, we're sunk! (informal) tree →
• She sat sunk in the armchair. tree →
• The stone has sunk to the bottom of the pond. tree →
• The clouds sunk as the evening drew on, and it became dark. tree →

Note

Forms: sink (now), sank (past), sunk (after have/has/had): it sank, it has sunk. Common mistake: it sunk yesterday is non-standard; say it sank. Sunken is used before a noun: a sunken ship, sunken treasure.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: The sinking of Pharaoh's army in the sea is the miracle sung about in the Song of the Sea, which is read in the synagogue each year. In the primary lessons: In history and stories: the Titanic sank in 1912 and lies sunk on the sea bed; pirate ships are sunk. In science, objects that are denser than water sink. In the game Battleships you say You sunk my battleship. In everyday talk, If we miss the bus, we're sunk.

Examples

• Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea, and his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea. (Torah EXO.15.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• sunk in the abyss, whence water comes forth. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• refers to viscous stones, sunk in the abyss, whence water comes (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• The nations are sunk down in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. (Writings PSA.9.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• I am sunk in deep mire, where there is no standing; I am come into deep waters, and the flood overwhelmeth me. (Writings PSA.69.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• At her feet he sunk, he fell, he lay; at her feet he sunk, he fell; where he sunk, there he fell down dead. (Prophets JDG.5.27, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Forms: sink (now), sank (past), sunk (after have/has/had): it sank, it has sunk. Common mistake: it sunk yesterday is non-standard; say it sank. Sunken is used before a noun: a sunken ship, sunken treasure.