English Reference

Word

sink

Phoneticssink

US/ˈsɪŋk/

UK/sˈɪŋk/

Irregular verb

Forms

Infinitive

sink

Past

sank

Past participle

sunk

Definitions

01washing basin

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

n. a large bowl with a tap and a drain, usually in a kitchen, used for washing dishes or hands.

n. a fixed basin with a water supply and drainage system, primarily used for culinary or hygienic cleansing.

“Please put your dirty plates in the kitchen sink after you finish eating.”

“The industrial kitchen was equipped with a deep stainless-steel sink designed to accommodate large catering pots and pans.”

Synonyms

basinwashbasin

02resource absorber

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical · Academic

n. a place or thing that collects or absorbs energy, money, or resources.

n. a technical or figurative destination that absorbs and dissipates energy, matter, or financial resources from a system.

“Forests act as a carbon sink by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air.”

“Economists identified the failing infrastructure project as a massive capital sink that offered no realistic prospect of a return on investment.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

03computing/networks

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a point in a computer network or graph where data or signals are received.

n. a node in a directed graph or a destination vertex in a network that receives incoming edges but has no outgoing ones.

“In this data flow diagram, the database acts as the final sink for all user information.”

“The software architect designed the event sink to handle asynchronous callbacks from multiple external APIs simultaneously.”

Antonyms

04to go down in water

A2 · Elementary

v. to go down below the surface of water or another liquid.

v. to descend or cause to descend below the surface of a liquid or soft substance.

“The heavy stone sank to the bottom of the lake immediately.”

“The damaged vessel began to sink rapidly after the hull was breached by the jagged rocks near the shoreline.”

Synonyms

submergedescendgo under

Antonyms

05to fall or drop

B1 · Intermediate

v. to move slowly downwards, or to sit down because you are tired.

v. to descend gradually to a lower level; often used for physical posture or environmental conditions.

“He was so exhausted that he sank into the nearest armchair.”

“As the sun began to sink below the horizon, the temperature in the valley dropped significantly.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

06to decrease or fail

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to become less in amount, value, or strength.

v. to decline in magnitude, value, or intensity; to fail in physical or emotional strength.

“Her heart sank when she realised she had failed the exam.”

“Consumer confidence continued to sink throughout the quarter as inflation reached its highest level in a decade.”

Antonyms

07to invest or spend

C1 · Advanced Informal

v. to spend a lot of money on something, usually a business or project.

v. to invest money or resources into a venture, often with the implication that they cannot be recovered.

“They sank all their savings into opening a small restaurant.”

“The venture capitalists were hesitant to sink more funds into the startup without a clearer path to profitability.”

08to drink quickly

C2 · Proficiency Slang · British English

v. to drink a large amount of alcohol quickly.

v. to consume an alcoholic beverage rapidly or in large quantities.

“They went to the pub and sank a few pints before the game started.”

“After a long shift at the factory, the workers gathered at the local bar to sink several rounds of ale.”

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sink” in context.

Verb

01. clean the sink

“You should clean the sink regularly to prevent bacteria from growing.”

verb + noun

02. fill the sink

“She filled the sink with warm soapy water to wash the dishes.”

verb + noun

03. unblock the sink

“We had to call a plumber to unblock the sink in the kitchen.”

verb + noun

Adjective

04. clogged sink

“The water is draining very slowly because of the clogged sink.”

adj + noun

05. kitchen sink

“The kitchen sink was full of dirty plates after the dinner party.”

adj + noun

Preposition

06. in the sink

“Please leave your coffee mug in the sink when you are finished.”

prep + noun

07. under the sink

“We keep all the cleaning supplies in a cupboard under the sink.”

prep + noun

Usage

Commonly used with the preposition 'in' when referring to items placed inside the basin.

Word family

NOUN

Sink(B1)

Idioms

Domains

ComputingEcologyGeologyMiningProgrammingTheater

This entry

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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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