sink
gb/sˈɪŋk/ us/sˈɪŋk/
A1
English
~ 2600
elsüllyed, belesüpped, süllyed, mosogató, mosdókagyló, csökken, elsüllyeszt, belemerít
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[something] sinks into [liquid/soft substance]
The stone sank to the bottom of the pond.
A kő elsüllyedt a tó fenekére.
The boat began to sink after hitting the rock.
A hajó süllyedni kezdett, miután nekiütközött a sziklának.
Her feet sank into the soft sand.
The heavy box sank when dropped in the pool.
Learner examples
The ball sank in the water.
A labda elsüllyedt a vízben.
My shoes sank in the mud.
A cipőim belesüppedtek a sárba.
The ship sank in the sea.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sink' with 'drown'; 'drown' is for living things dying in water, while 'sink' is for objects or people going under.
Meaning
Go below liquid surface
Collocations
sink to the bottom
|sink slowly
|sink beneath the waves
|ship sinks
Synonyms
submerge (Implies going completely under the surface, often deliberately.)
Antonyms
float (Describes staying on top of a liquid without going under.)
Themes
daily life
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go down under water or into something soft.
To move downward below the surface of a liquid or into a soft substance.
NOUN
A1
2
mosogató
A2
mosdókagyló
B1
She filled the sink with warm soapy water.
Teleengedte a mosogatót meleg, mosogatószeres vízzel.
The sink is clogged again.
Már megint eldugult a mosogató.
He washed his hands in the sink.
Please rinse the vegetables in the sink.
Learner examples
I wash my hands in the sink.
A mosdókagylóban mosok kezet.
The sink is full of dishes.
A mosogató tele van edényekkel.
Water goes down the sink.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sink' with 'washbasin'; in American English 'sink' is more common in both kitchens and bathrooms.
Meaning
Basin with drain and faucet
Collocations
kitchen sink
|bathroom sink
|wash in the sink
Synonyms
basin (A general term for a container for holding water; may be portable.)
Themes
daily life
|home
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A bowl in a kitchen or bathroom with water for washing things.
A fixed container in a kitchen, bathroom, or other room, equipped with a drain and usually a faucet, used for washing hands, dishes, or other items.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
[something] sinks [in level/amount]
He sank into the sofa after work.
Munka után belesüppedt a kanapéba.
The sun sank behind the mountains.
A nap a hegyek mögé süllyedt.
Her spirits sank when she heard the news.
Learner examples
The boy sank into the chair.
A fiú belesüppedt a székbe.
The sun sank behind the trees.
A nap a fák mögé süllyedt.
My heart sank when I saw the test score.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'fall' instead of 'sink'; 'sink' often suggests a slow or gradual movement downward.
Meaning
Decrease in level or position
Collocations
sink into a chair
|sun sinks below horizon
|sink to a low point
Synonyms
drop (A general term for moving downward; less specific than 'sink'.)
Antonyms
rise (To move upward in position or level.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go down to a lower place or amount.
To move or drop to a lower position or level, physically or figuratively.
VERB
B1
4
elsüllyeszt
B2
belemerít
B2
Usage pattern:
to sink [something] in [liquid]
The navy sank the enemy ship.
A haditengerészet elsüllyesztette az ellenséges hajót.
He sank his hands into the cold water.
Mindkét kezét belemerítette a hideg vízbe.
They tried to sink the old vessel as an artificial reef.
Learner examples
The storm sank the small boat.
A vihar elsüllyesztette a kis csónakot.
I sank the toy in the pool.
Elsüllyesztettem a játékot a medencében.
They sank the ship in deep water.
Meaning
Cause to go under liquid surface
Collocations
sink a boat
|sink an object
Synonyms
submerge (Often used for deliberate action of putting something underwater.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To push or make something go under water.
To make something go down below the surface of water or another liquid.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sink
IPA
GB/sˈɪŋk/
US/sˈɪŋk/
Syllables & stress
sink (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (sink)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sink
- Plural: sinks
Verb
- Base: sink
- 3rd Person Singular: sinks
- Present Participle: sinking
- Past: sank
- Past Participle: sunk
Word family
Forms
sinks
noun
sinking
verb
sank
verb
sunk
verb
Related words
sunken
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unsinkable
adjective
Advanced or less common
sinkhole
noun
Highlights
- Irregular past: sank Verb
- Irregular past participle: sunk Verb
Expressions
sink in
1/sˈɪŋk ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
Be fully understood over time
To slowly become understood in your mind.
Examples
- It took a while for the news to sink in.
- The reality of her win finally sank in after a few days.
sink your teeth into
2/sˈɪŋk jˈʊɹ tˈiθ ˈɪntu/
idiom
informal
Start doing enthusiastically
To start doing something with a lot of energy and interest.
Examples
- He couldn't wait to sink his teeth into his new project.
- She sank her teeth into learning Spanish.
sink into oblivion
3/sˈɪŋk ˈɪntu əblˈɪviən/
idiom
Be forgotten over time
To slowly be forgotten by everyone.
Examples
- Many old traditions have sunk into oblivion over the centuries.
- After the scandal, his name sank into oblivion.
- The once-famous singer has sunk into oblivion.
- Many early computer games have sunk into oblivion despite being groundbreaking at the time.
- Small local newspapers are quietly sinking into oblivion.
everything but the kitchen sink
1/ˈɛvɹiθˌɪŋ bˈʌt ðə kˈɪt͡ʃən sˈɪŋk/
idiom
informal
Including nearly every possible thing
Including almost every possible item or thing, often more than necessary.
Examples
- They packed everything but the kitchen sink for their holiday.
- She packed everything but the kitchen sink for the weekend trip.
- She packed everything but the kitchen sink for her trip.
- The proposal had everything but the kitchen sink.
- The report included everything but the kitchen sink.
- They threw everything but the kitchen sink into their marketing campaign.