sink

/sɪŋk/ (bre, ipa) · /sɪŋk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsiŋk/ (ame, mw)

sink — verb

1. to go down through water or a soft substance so that the top is no longer visibl

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to go down through water or a soft substance so that the top is no longer visible, or to cause something to do this — for instance, a pebble dropping all the way down in a pool, or a boat going under after a hole is torn in its side.

例句

The old fishing boat began to sink after hitting a sharp rock near the shore.

intransitive: boat/object + sink

Ilan dropped his car keys into the lake and watched them sink slowly.

intransitive: object + sink + adverb

同義詞
  • submerge

    more formal and usually transitive; suggests complete coverage by liquid

  • go under

    phrasal verb, informal; used mainly for ships or people in water

  • plunge

    more forceful and sudden than sink

反義詞
  • float

    to stay on the surface of a liquid

  • rise

    to move upward to or toward the surface

文法句型

sink + into/in + noun phrase (intransitive)

sink + object + into/in + noun phrase (transitive)

用法筆記

Subject can be either the thing that goes down (intransitive: The boat sank) or the person who causes it (transitive: They sank the boat). The intransitive use is more common in everyday speech. For the transitive use, the agent is usually a person, a force of nature, or a deliberate action.

常見錯誤

❌The stone sunk to the bottom.
✅The stone sank to the bottom.
💡'sink' is an irregular verb: sink-sank-sunk. Use 'sank' for simple past.
❌I sink the ball into the basket yesterday.
✅I sank the ball into the basket yesterday.
💡The past tense is 'sank', not 'sink'.

2. to go gradually down to a lower position, level, or emotional state because of t

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to go gradually down to a lower position, level, or emotional state because of tiredness, weakness, or slow change — for example, settling into a chair after a long day, the sun dropping out of sight, or your confidence dropping when things go badly.

例句

After working twelve hours, Élise sank into the sofa and closed her eyes.

sink + into + furniture (resting)

The sun sank below the horizon and the sky turned deep orange.

intransitive: sun + sink (daily event)

同義詞
  • drop

    more general; can be fast or slow, intentional or accidental

  • descend

    more formal; often used for gradual, controlled downward movement

  • slump

    suggests falling or dropping suddenly because of tiredness or lack of strength

反義詞
  • rise

    to move upward

  • lift

    to move to a higher position

文法句型

sink + adverb/preposition (into/onto/back/to/below)

用法筆記

Intransitive only in this sense; you cannot say 'I sank my voice' — use 'lowered' instead. Frequently used with prepositions like into, onto, to, below, or adverbs like slowly, gradually. Common with body parts (sank to his knees, sank back) and abstract subjects (heart, spirits, hopes).

常見錯誤

❌I sank myself onto the bed.
✅I sank onto the bed.
💡'sink' in this sense is intransitive; do not add an object or reflexive pronoun.
❌His voice was sank to a low tone.
✅His voice sank to a low tone.
💡Use active past tense 'sank', not passive 'was sunk'.

3. to put a ball through a hole, pocket, or basket during a game such as golf, snoo

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to put a ball through a hole, pocket, or basket during a game such as golf, snooker, or basketball by striking or throwing it accurately.

例句

Romi sank a twelve-foot putt on the final hole to win the match.

golf: sink + [distance] + putt

Yuna sank the last red ball into the corner pocket and cleared the table.

snooker: sink + ball + into + pocket

同義詞
  • pot

    British English; used specifically in snooker and pool

  • make

    general sports term; 'make a shot' can replace 'sink a shot'

  • score

    broader meaning; applies to any way of earning points

反義詞
  • miss

    to fail to hit the target or get the ball in

  • brick

    slang, basketball-specific; a badly missed shot

文法句型

sink + noun phrase (ball/putt/shot)

用法筆記

Transitive only; always takes a ball as the direct object. Often used with a modifier that specifies the type of shot (sank a long putt, sank a free throw). In basketball 'sink' is less common than 'make' but is used in sports commentary. In snooker and pool, this is the standard verb for potting a ball.

常見錯誤

❌He sunk the ball into the basket.
✅He sank the ball into the basket.
💡Past tense of 'sink' is 'sank' (not 'sunk') for simple past.
❌She sank the basket.
✅She sank the ball (into the basket).
💡You sink the ball, not the basket itself.

4. to make an opening in the earth and place something inside, or to cause a struct

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make an opening in the earth and place something inside, or to cause a structure to extend downward into the soil — for instance, putting a fence post into a hole, boring a well for water, or setting a foundation for a building.

例句

The villagers sank a well behind the school to get clean drinking water.

sink + a well (digging for water)

Ayesha sank the fence posts two feet into the ground before adding cement.

sink + object + [depth] + into + ground

同義詞
  • dig

    general term; 'dig a well' is more common than 'sink a well'

  • bury

    to place something in the ground and cover it

  • embed

    to fix something firmly in a surrounding mass

反義詞
  • unearth

    to dig something up from the ground

  • expose

    to uncover or reveal what was buried

文法句型

sink + noun phrase + into + noun phrase (ground/earth)

sink + noun phrase (well/shaft/post)

用法筆記

Transitive only. The direct object is either what is placed in the ground (a post, a pipe, a body) or what is created by digging (a well, a shaft). The object placed is followed by into + ground/earth/soil or a depth specification. In mining contexts, 'sink a shaft' is the standard expression.

常見錯誤

❌He sunk the post into the earth.
✅He sank the post into the earth.
💡Past tense is 'sank'; 'sunk' is the past participle.
❌The workers sunk a well.
✅The workers sank a well.
💡Irregular verb: sink-sank-sunk.

5. to make something fail completely, end, or reach a very bad state — for example,

5.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make something fail completely, end, or reach a very bad state — for example, a scandal sinking a politician's career, or high costs sinking a small business.

例句

The corruption scandal sank the mayor's chances of being re-elected.

scandal/event + sink + chances (career failure)

High operating costs sank the family restaurant within two years of opening.

financial cost + sink + business

同義詞
  • ruin

    more general; can apply to people, objects, events, and plans

  • destroy

    stronger; implies complete and irreversible damage

  • wreck

    informal; suggests violent or careless destruction

反義詞
  • save

    to prevent failure or loss

  • rescue

    to bring something back from failure or danger

文法句型

sink + noun phrase (business/plan/relationship/career)

用法筆記

Transitive only. Subject is typically an event, cost, scandal, or action — NOT a person. You would say 'The scandal sank his career' but not 'He sank his career' in this sense (that would be sense 1, literally dropping it in water). Use 'ruin' or 'destroy' for personal agency. The past participle 'sunk' is also used adjectivally: 'a sunk cost' or 'we are sunk'.

常見錯誤

❌The low score sunk his chances.
✅The low score sank his chances.
💡Simple past is 'sank', not 'sunk'. Use 'sunk' as the past participle: 'His chances were sunk by the low score.'
❌My boss sank my proposal yesterday.
✅My boss rejected my proposal yesterday.
💡'sink' in this sense is for complete, final failure, not simple rejection.

sink — noun