sunken

adjective

sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən How to pronounce sunken (audio)
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

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 From there, an entrance hallway displaying a floating staircase leads to a sunken living area sporting several lounge spaces and Fleetwood sliding glass doors spilling out to the backyard. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024 The lower level, which has a separate entrance, also contains a bonus room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a patio (it’s currently used as a gym/yoga studio), as well as a spacious home office that looks out to a sunken courtyard. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 On this day, Olena led Serhiy to a large sunken concrete pit across the street from the school building. Sabra Ayres, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Located in a former mayonnaise factory, and famous for its sunken reflecting pool, Galapagos Art Space attracts crowds who might encounter a poetry slam or a musician blowing into a didgeridoo. New York Times, 29 Jan. 2024 The ensuite bathroom is remarkable with a sunken Roman shower that has a slider on one side that opens directly onto a sundeck. David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 27 Jan. 2024 The three passengers were discovered in the dinghy floating near the sunken ship and pulled aboard a rescue boat, according to officials. Makiya Seminera, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2024 Inside, as the crowd spilled down a carpeted staircase into a sunken ballroom, the mood was buoyant—more fan convention than campaign gathering. Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2024 There are blond, herringbone-pattern wood floors, soaring ceilings, curved walls, and in a sunken area of the great room, a sculptural fireplace. Mark David, Robb Report, 23 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sunken.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near sunken

Cite this Entry

“Sunken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunken. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on sunken

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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