1
: a usually large receptacle for holding, transporting, or storing liquids (such as water or fuel)
2
: an enclosed heavily armed and armored combat vehicle that moves on tracks
3
: tank top
5
: a prison cell or enclosure used especially for receiving prisoners
tanked; tanking; tanks
1
: to make no effort to win : lose intentionally
tanked the match
2
: to place, store, or treat in a tank
1
: to lose intentionally : give up in competition
2
: to suffer rapid decline, failure, or collapse
bought a stock that quickly tanked
Examples of tank in a Sentence
Verb
Some people say she deliberately tanked the match.
Some people have accused her of tanking.
Recent Examples on the Web
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2025
Rounding out the capsule are a cardigan, sweater, muscle tank, Ts, muscle tanks, and button-down shirts.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2025
Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
The Roberts court, unusually obsessed with the Supreme Court’s public reputation and appearance of political interference, might consider such a ruling a way to balance limiting executive power without tanking the broader economy.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tank
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Noun
The professional-grade facility includes dual 80-gallon Ingersoll Rand air compressors, two nitrogen tanks with hoses, tire storage racks, and stone-hard floor coating rated for 10,000 psi—everything an amateur or professional racecar driver needs to keep the pedal to the metal.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2025
Rounding out the capsule are a cardigan, sweater, muscle tank, Ts, muscle tanks, and button-down shirts.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2025
Verb
That was the main reason his numbers tanked with the Mets.
—Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
The Roberts court, unusually obsessed with the Supreme Court’s public reputation and appearance of political interference, might consider such a ruling a way to balance limiting executive power without tanking the broader economy.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tank
Cite this Entry
“Tank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tank. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tank
1 of 2 noun1
: a usually large container for holding, transporting, or storing liquids
2
: an enclosed heavily armed and armored combat vehicle that moves on beltlike tracks
tank
2 of 2 verb
: to place, store, or treat in a tank
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