sink

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.

• 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

• rise

  to move upward

• lift

  to move to a higher position

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.

• 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

• miss

  to fail to hit the target or get the ball in

• brick

  slang, basketball-specific; a badly missed shot

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.

• 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

• unearth

  to dig something up from the ground

• expose

  to uncover or reveal what was buried

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.

• 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

• save

  to prevent failure or loss

• rescue

  to bring something back from failure or danger