sink
sink — verb
- sinkpresent simple I / you / we / they
- sinkshe / she / it
- sankpast simple
- sunkpast participle
- sinking-ing form
1. to move down through water, mud, or other substance until you reach the bottom —
to move down through water, mud, or other substance until you reach the bottom — or to push something down so the same thing happens
Takeshi's fishing boat sank slowly into the dark ocean after the storm.
sink + into [liquid]
Nala's boots sank deep into the thick mud near the riverbank.
The rescue team tried to pull Rafael out before the quicksand could sink him completely.
Putri dropped a stone into the lake and watched it sink straight to the bottom.
文法句型
sink + into [substance]
sink + below/beneath [surface]
sink + something (cause to go under)
用法筆記
The transitive form — 'sink something' — often describes deliberately damaging a boat or ship. 'Into' is the most common preposition for specifying the substance.
常見錯誤
2. to fall, drop, or become lower in level, amount, strength, or position — for exa
to fall, drop, or become lower in level, amount, strength, or position — for example, sitting down heavily, the sun going down, or prices going down — or to cause something to do this
Vivek sank into the old sofa after working twelve hours at the factory.
sink + into [seat/furniture]
The temperature in Ada's apartment sank below ten degrees last winter.
Aaron's voice sank to a whisper when he heard the bad news.
Chiara watched the orange sun sink behind the mountains as evening came.
Sales of the new phone model sank by forty percent in the first quarter.
文法句型
sink + into [position/state]
sink + by [amount]
sink + to [level]
用法筆記
Subject varies widely — prices, temperatures, voices, spirits, and the sun are all common. Frequently used with adverbs of degree ('sharply', 'dramatically', 'steadily') to describe the rate of decrease.
常見錯誤
3. to finish a shot successfully so the ball goes into the intended target — such a
to finish a shot successfully so the ball goes into the intended target — such as a golf cup, basketball hoop, or pool pocket
Kemi sank a thirty-foot putt to win the golf tournament on the last hole.
sink + a [type of shot] + to [purpose]
Rania leaped high and sank the ball through the hoop just before the whistle.
With one smooth move, Astrid sank the black ball into the corner pocket.
Fans cheered when Takeshi sank a difficult shot from the other side of the court.
文法句型
sink + a [shot/putt/basket]
sink + the ball + into [hole/hoop/pocket]
用法筆記
Only the ball or shot itself can be the object — never the goal, hoop, or pocket. 'Sink a free throw' is correct; 'sink the basket' is not used in this sense.
常見錯誤
4. to make an opening in the earth by removing soil and rock, or to place an object
to make an opening in the earth by removing soil and rock, or to place an object firmly into the ground
The workers sank a new well behind the village to get fresh drinking water.
sink + a well — common in construction contexts
Nala helped her father sink fence posts into the hard, rocky soil.
The construction crew sank deep holes for the foundation of the new bridge.
Vivek's family sank a pipe into the ground to drain water from the yard.
文法句型
sink + [a well/post/hole] + into the ground
sink + into [the earth/soil]
用法筆記
The object is the hole, well, or item being placed — not the ground itself. Common in farming, construction, and plumbing contexts.
5. to ruin someone's plans, hopes, reputation, or chances of success
to ruin someone's plans, hopes, reputation, or chances of success
The scandal sank the senator's chances of being elected for a second term.
sink + [someone's] chances/hopes/plans
Bad weather sank Chiara's plan to hold the wedding ceremony in the garden.
Kemi's poor grades in math sank her hopes of studying at a top university.
The company's huge debt finally sank the family business after sixty years of trade.
文法句型
sink + [someone's hopes/chances/plans]
sink + [a person/organization]
用法筆記
The subject is typically a problem, event, or negative situation — not a person acting deliberately. 'The scandal sank his career' is natural; 'He sank his career' works but uses a different sense of the word.
6. to drink something in large amounts and quickly, especially an alcoholic drink
to drink something in large amounts and quickly, especially an alcoholic drink
After the long run, Talia sank an entire bottle of water in under a minute.
sink + [amount of drink] + in [time]
Rania sank three glasses of fresh orange juice at breakfast to quench her thirst.
Astrid sank the last of her tea and ran out to catch the bus.
At the party, Takeshi sank four bottles of beer before dinner was even served.
文法句型
sink + [amount of drink]
sink + [a drink]
用法筆記
Informal register. The object is the drink itself or a container with a measure ('a bottle', 'three glasses'). Avoid using this in formal writing.
sink — noun
- sinksingular
- sinksplural
1. a basin connected to water pipes and built into a counter or wall, used for clea
a basin connected to water pipes and built into a counter or wall, used for cleaning dishes, hands, or food
Putri left the dirty plates in the sink and went to answer the front door.
in the sink — common preposition for describing contents
Nala filled the kitchen sink with warm soapy water to wash the vegetables.
Vivek fixed the leaky pipe under the bathroom sink with a new metal wrench.
A pile of dirty cups sat in the sink after the party ended late.
Chiara scrubbed the mud off her boots in the backyard sink before going inside.
用法筆記
Frequently modified by a location noun: 'kitchen sink', 'bathroom sink'. In British English, 'washbasin' is more common than 'sink' for the bathroom fixture.
常見錯誤
2. a place where the ground has fallen in or collapsed, forming a hole or low area
a place where the ground has fallen in or collapsed, forming a hole or low area
Heavy rain created a large sink in the middle of the old farmer's wheat field.
Ada warned the children to stay away from the deep sink near the trail.
The road collapsed overnight when a giant sink opened up underneath the asphalt.
Kemi took a photo of the giant sink that appeared after the earthquake.
- sinkhole
the more common term for a depression formed by collapse; 'sink' is a shorter synonym
- depression
general term for any low area; less specific than 'sink' or 'sinkhole'
- cavity
describes the empty space underground rather than the surface hole
用法筆記
Technically distinct from 'sinkhole', which forms by underground rock dissolving. But in everyday speech, 'sink' and 'sinkhole' are often used for any ground collapse.