# sinker

/ˈsɪŋkɝ/ (US) · /sˈɪŋkɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sinker
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a small heavy weight you fix to a fishing line to pull the hook down under the water.

For teachers: a weight fastened to a fishing line, hook, or net to make it sink below the surface.

## Examples

- He ties a sinker to his fishing line.
- The angler adds a heavier sinker so the bait stays near the riverbed in the fast current.
- Even with a live minnow wriggling on the hook, the old fisherman knew that without the right sinker the current would lift the whole rig uselessly toward the surface.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.