sinking

sinking — noun

1. a gradual decrease in the level, strength, or success of something, happening ov

1.名詞B2
釋義

a gradual decrease in the level, strength, or success of something, happening over a period of time — for example, the sinking of a company's reputation after a scandal, or the sinking of a town's economy after its main factory closes

例句

The sinking of the old steel town's economy continued for another five years.

sinking of + noun phrase (economy/sector/market)

After losing three major clients, Gabriel could not stop the sinking of his company's reputation.

同義詞
  • decline

    more general and common for any decrease; 'sinking' implies a more relentless, ongoing loss

  • deterioration

    more formal, suggests a worsening in quality or condition over time

  • downfall

    more dramatic, suggesting complete failure or ruin rather than a gradual process

反義詞
  • rise

    general opposite for any upward movement in level or amount

  • recovery

    specifically for improvement after a period of decline or difficulty

文法句型

the sinking of + noun phrase

further/gradual/slow + sinking

用法筆記

The noun 'sinking' is less common than the verb 'sink' for describing physical decline; it is most often used for abstract or metaphorical loss — in an economy, reputation, confidence, or morale. The fixed expression 'sinking feeling' describes a sudden sense of dread or disappointment.

常見錯誤

❌The sinking of the stock market happened in a single afternoon.
✅The crash of the stock market happened in a single afternoon.
💡'Sinking' describes a gradual process, not a sudden collapse, so 'crash' is more accurate for rapid drops.
❌There has been a sinking in his health recently.
✅There has been a decline in his health recently.
💡For health, 'decline' is the more natural noun; 'sinking' is used for morale, confidence, financial strength, or reputation.

2. the action of moving down below the surface of a body of water or other liquid —

2.名詞B1
釋義

the action of moving down below the surface of a body of water or other liquid — for example, the sinking of a ship after it is damaged, or the sinking of an object dropped into a lake

例句

The sinking of the small wooden fishing boat took less than two minutes.

sinking of + vessel noun phrase

Rafael watched the slow sinking of the toy boat into the garden pond.

同義詞
  • submersion

    more technical, emphasises the state of being fully covered by liquid; less common in everyday speech

  • descent

    more general, can describe any downward movement through air or water, not only into liquid

  • foundering

    specifically of a ship filling with water and sinking; more formal or literary

反義詞
  • ascent

    general opposite for upward movement through water or air

  • floating

    staying on or near the surface rather than going under

文法句型

the sinking of + vessel noun phrase

possessive + sinking

slow/gradual + sinking

用法筆記

Common in historical and news contexts about shipwrecks, such as 'the sinking of the Titanic.' The noun form is preferred over the verb when referring to the event as a complete historical incident rather than describing the action in progress.

常見錯誤

❌The sinking of the swimmer was very fast.
✅The swimmer sank very fast.
💡When describing a person going underwater, the verb form is more natural than the noun 'sinking,' which is reserved for vessels and large objects.