verb intrans
to go down below the surface of liquid or a soft substance
said of a ship: to fall or cause to fall to the bottom of a body of water
(usu + in/into) to penetrate or cause to penetrate a solid through the surface
The ink sinks into the paper
to dig or bore (a well or shaft) in the earth
to fall or drop to a lower place or level
sank to his knees
voice sank to a whisper
to disappear below the horizon
said of a cooking mixture: to fail to rise in the middle
to pass into a specified state
sank into a doze
to go downwards in quality, condition, amount, or worth
Munro had again sunk into that sort of apathy which had beset him since his late overwhelming misfortunes — J Fenimore Cooper
Tess seemed … pleased to hear that she had won high opinion from a stranger when, in her own esteem, she had sunk so low — Hardy
to deteriorate physically, esp from illness
to cause (a ship) to sink
to force (something) down, esp into the ground
to cause (something) to penetrate deeply
to dig or bore (a well or shaft) in the earth
(usu in passive) to overwhelm or defeat (somebody)
to ignore or suppress (a difference, disagreement, etc)
to invest (money or energy) in something
informal to consume (a drink), esp quickly
to hit (a golf ball) into the hole
in snooker, billiards, etc, to hit (a ball) into a pocket
to succeed or fail through one's own efforts