dunk

1 of 2

verb

ˈdəŋk How to pronounce dunk (audio)
dunked; dunking; dunks
Synonyms of dunknext

transitive verb

1
: to dip (something, such as a piece of bread) into a beverage while eating
2
: to dip or submerge temporarily in liquid
3
: to throw (a basketball) into the basket from above the rim see also dunk on

intransitive verb

1
: to submerge oneself in water
2
: to make a dunk shot in basketball

dunk

2 of 2

noun

: the act or action of dunking
especially : dunk shot

Synonyms of dunk

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Verb

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Examples of dunk in a Sentence

Verb I like to dunk my doughnut in my coffee. She dunked him while they were swimming. He dunked the ladle into the soup. He could dunk when he was 16. Noun The pass led to a dunk.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Brees showed off his impressive hops after the score by dunking the ball over the goal post. — Larry Holder, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Simply dunk the head in water and wipe the wet pad over the hot grates. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
Malonga had a first-half dunk for Team Coop, but Team Spoon had eight players score in double figures in an All-Star Game that featured 127 3-point attempts and very little defense. — Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 Malonga became the seventh player in league history to record a dunk in an All-Star Game, according to the Storm. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dunk

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Pennsylvania German dunke, from Middle High German dunken, from Old High German dunkōn — more at tinge

First Known Use

Verb

1926, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dunk was in 1926

Phrases Containing dunk

Rhymes for dunk

See All Rhymes for dunk

Browse Nearby Words

dunite
dunk
dunkadoo
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dunk. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dunk

verb
ˈdəŋk
1
: to dip (as a doughnut) into liquid (as coffee)
2
: to plunge oneself into water

More from Merriam-Webster on dunk

Nglish: Translation of dunk for Spanish Speakers

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