Phrasal verb
sink in
Definition
phrasal verb. to gradually understand or realize the full meaning of something, especially something surprising or important.
phrasal verb. to be gradually understood or fully realized by the mind. This phrasal verb is intransitive and describes the cognitive process of internalizing information or the emotional weight of an event.
Examples
“The bad news took a few minutes to sink in.”
“He won the lottery yesterday, but the reality of his wealth hasn't really sunk in yet.”
“It took several days for the gravity of the political shift to sink in among the local population.”
Examples
simple
“The bad news took a few minutes to sink in.”
contextual
“He won the lottery yesterday, but the reality of his wealth hasn't really sunk in yet.”
complex
“It took several days for the gravity of the political shift to sink in among the local population.”
Usage
usually used with 'it' or a piece of news as the subject; the person understanding is often introduced with 'to'.
Teaching tip
use the metaphor of liquid being absorbed into a surface to help students visualize the slow process of information entering the brain.
Pitfall
I finally sank in the news.
The news finally sank in.
the phrase is intransitive; the news is the subject that 'sinks', not the object of the verb.
Phrasal verb
Particles
in
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
subject + sink + in
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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