sunken

adjective

sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən How to pronounce sunken (audio)
Synonyms of sunkennext
1
: submerged
especially : lying at the bottom of a body of water
2
a
: hollow, recessed
sunken cheeks
b
: lying in a depression
a sunken garden
c
: settled below the normal level
d
: constructed below the normal floor level
a sunken living room

Synonyms of sunken

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Examples of sunken in a Sentence

Her eyes were sunken and lifeless. our convalescing guest's sunken cheeks soon filled out on a diet of my mother's cooking
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.
The sunken hallway of Georgetown University’s Medical Dental Building, home to its anatomical donor program, is unnervingly cheerful. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 Want a sunken hot tub to sneak away to while the kids are in the youth club? — Gina Kramer, USA Today, 25 July 2026 Phillips confirmed that authorities had also located the sunken MV Barima itself. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026 Between summer heat, sporadic rainfall, vacations and inconsistent watering, some of us are noticing black sunken patches on the blossom end (bottoms) of our ripening fruit. — Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sunken

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sonkyn, past participle of sinken to sink

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sunken was in the 15th century

Rhymes for sunken

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Browse Nearby Words

sunk cost
sunken
sunk enamel
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Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

sunken

adjective
sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən How to pronounce sunken (audio)
1
: being submerged
especially : lying at the bottom of a body of water
sunken ships
2
: fallen in : hollow
sunken cheeks
3
a
: lying in a depression
a sunken garden
b
: constructed below the normal floor level
a sunken living room

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