sunken

adjective

sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən 

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

Synonyms

• concave
• hollow
• depressed

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

To learn a little more about the city during your stay, be sure to drop by the lobby’s sunken living room, where a bookcase of Mexican literature awaits. —Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 13 July 2025

Limestone stacked next to a sunken hole — perhaps used to wash it — left the impression workers hastily left the quarry when the lime kiln abruptly halted operations. —Sacbee.com, 6 July 2025

The Habsburg jaw Some members of the Habsburg dynasty—including Charles II—had a protruding jaw and a sunken midface. —Aurora Martínez, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025

The main pool, meanwhile, is complete with a sunken seating spot and more touches of greenery. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 17 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sonkyn, past participle of sinken to sink

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sunken

• drunken
• shrunken

Kids Definition

sunken

adjective

sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən 

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