Sank vs Sunk - What's the Difference?

Meaning

Pronunciation

Word Class (Verb)

Grammar

Common Uses

Literal Meaning

Figurative Meaning

American English Usage

Typical Sentence Patterns

Common Collocations

Meaning

Pronunciation

Word Class (Verb / Adjective)

Grammar

Common Uses

Literal Meaning

Figurative Meaning

American English Usage

Typical Sentence Patterns

Common Collocations

Grammar Rules & Mechanics

The distinction between 'sank' and 'sunk' follows the same pattern as 'drank' vs 'drunk' or 'rang' vs 'rung'. Mastering this irregular verb conjugation is essential for correct English.

Expressions with "Sank"

Expressions with "Sunk"

Collocations

Idioms

Easy

1. The small boat sank in the storm.
2. The rock sank to the bottom of the pool.
3. The boy has sunk his toy in the bathtub.
4. My heart sank when I lost my keys.
5. The sun sank below the hills.
6. Has the ship sunk yet?
7. He sank into the soft bed.
8. The cookie sank into my glass of milk.
9. The lost city has sunk beneath the ocean.
10. She sank the basketball into the hoop.
11. The fisherman's line sank into the water.
12. All my money has sunk into this project.
13. The heavy anchor sank quickly.
14. The old car was sunk in the mud.
15. The temperature sank to freezing last night.
16. The balloon sank slowly to the ground.
17. He had sunk to his knees to pray.
18. The coin sank out of sight.
19. The rumor has sunk his reputation.
20. She sank down into the chair.

Intermediate

1. The Titanic sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage.
2. By the time the rescue team arrived, the canoe had already sunk.
3. The company's stock sank dramatically after the CEO resigned.
4. He has sunk thousands of dollars into restoring the classic car.
5. Exhausted from the hike, she sank onto the park bench.
6. The pirate ship was sunk by a cannonball off the coast of Florida.
7. Her heart sank when she saw the terrible traffic on the highway.
8. The student's grades sank because he spent too much time playing video games.
9. The accountant explained the concept of sunk costs to the managers.
10. The basketball player sank a three-pointer from half-court at the buzzer.
11. The reality of the tragic accident has finally sunk in.
12. The heavy machinery sank deep into the soft mud of the construction site.
13. The sailor's body was found with pale skin and sunk eyes.
14. The political candidate's approval rating sank to an all-time low.
15. They realized the funds had sunk into a fraudulent offshore account.
16. The weary traveler sank into a deep sleep at the hotel.
17. The divers explored the ship that had sunk during World War II.
18. The priest sank to his knees and began to pray for guidance.
19. The company has sunk to a new low by exploiting its workers.
20. The golfer calmly sank a ten-foot putt to win the championship.

Advanced

1. The beleaguered maritime vessel sank rapidly after striking an uncharted reef.
2. By the time the naval inquiry convened, the submarine had sunk to a depth of 400 fathoms.
3. The corporation's market capitalization sank precipitously following the antitrust ruling.
4. The philanthropist has sunk a substantial fortune into eradicating infectious diseases.
5. As the harrowing tale unfolded, the audience's collective spirit sank.
6. The venerable galleon was sunk by a rogue privateer in the Caribbean.
7. The architect's reputation sank when the structural flaws in the bridge were exposed.
8. Economists warn against the sunk cost fallacy when evaluating failing enterprises.
9. The seasoned athlete sank the decisive free throw amidst a cacophony of boos.
10. The grim reality of the pandemic has finally sunk in for the global populace.
11. The armored tank sank precipitously into the quagmire of the battlefield.
12. The famine left the region's children with emaciated limbs and sunk cheeks.
13. The incumbent's political capital sank irrevocably after the corruption scandal.
14. The venture capitalist realized his investments had sunk into a Ponzi scheme.
15. The despondent protagonist sank into an abyss of existential nihilism.
16. The maritime archaeologists meticulously excavated the vessel that had sunk millennia ago.
17. The penitent monk sank to his knees, beseeching the divine for clemency.
18. The journalistic integrity of the tabloid has sunk to an unprecedented nadir.
19. The grandmaster sunk the opposing king with a brilliant, calculated maneuver.
20. The orator's profound words sank into the minds of the enraptured listeners.

Academic

1. The research vessel sank in the Weddell Sea after succumbing to crushing ice pressure.
2. The data indicates that the localized aquifer had sunk significantly due to over-extraction.
3. The university's endowment sank marginally during the fiscal quarter's market volatility.
4. The principal investigator has sunk years into compiling the longitudinal study.
5. Morale in the academic department sank following the denial of tenure for a favored professor.
6. It was noted in the historical record that the flotilla was sunk by a sudden squall.
7. The credibility of the pseudoscientific theory sank under rigorous peer review.
8. Behavioral economists emphasize that sunk costs should not influence rational decision-making.
9. The experimental subject's baseline heart rate sank during the meditation phase.
10. The paradigm-shifting hypothesis has finally sunk in among the scientific community.
11. The heavy sediment sank to the benthic zone, creating a stratified layer.
12. The clinical description notes the patient presented with sallow skin and sunk eyes.
13. The civilization's cultural output sank into a period of stagnation.
14. The foundation's grants have sunk into researching renewable energy matrices.
15. The philosopher's psyche sank into profound ontological uncertainty.
16. The oceanographic survey mapped the galleon that had sunk in the 16th century.
17. The geologic plate sank beneath the continental crust, triggering a subduction zone.
18. The ethical standards of the experiment have sunk to an unacceptable level.
19. The mathematician sunk the variable into a complex differential equation.
20. The implications of the theorem slowly sank in over the course of the lecture.

Business

1. The startup's valuation sank after the initial product launch failed.
2. The corporation has sunk considerable capital into expanding its Asian operations.
3. Investor confidence sank when the CEO announced his sudden departure.
4. We must evaluate the project's future viability, ignoring any sunk costs.
5. The retail chain's profits sank during the economic recession.
6. The competitor was sunk by a series of devastating lawsuits.
7. The manager's authority sank when the team discovered his lack of technical knowledge.
8. The conglomerate has sunk millions into research and development.
9. Sales figures sank unexpectedly in the third quarter.
10. The realization that the market was saturated finally sunk in for the executives.
11. The logistics company's fleet sank into disrepair due to poor maintenance.
12. The CEO presented with pale skin and sunk eyes after days of negotiation.
13. The company's market share sank to an all-time low this quarter.
14. The venture capitalist has sunk his personal wealth into the biotech firm.
15. The manager sank into his chair, overwhelmed by the budget report.
16. The rival tech company was sunk by a massive data breach.
17. The brand's reputation has sunk to an unacceptable level.
18. The marketing team sank the new product line with a terrible campaign.
19. The firm's resources have sunk into a completely unprofitable sector.
20. The board's decision to fire the founder finally sank in among the employees.