dunker

1 of 2

noun (1)

dunk·​er ˈdəŋ-kər How to pronounce dunker (audio)
: one that dunks
especially : a basketball player who makes dunk shots

Dunker

2 of 2

noun (2)

Dun·​ker ˈdəŋ-kər How to pronounce Dunker (audio)
variants or Dunkard
: a member of the Church of the Brethren or any of several other originally German Baptist denominations practicing trine immersion and love feasts and refusing to take oaths or to perform military service

Examples of dunker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Four players compete in front of a panel of judges who assess the dunkers over two rounds. Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2024 Thus far, Thompson has made an impact cutting off the ball, crashing the boards, and waiting in the dunker spot. Rahat Huq, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Thompson has taken to cutting off the ball or sitting in the dunker spot, creating vertical spacing. Rahat Huq, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 The two dunkers with the highest composite score from the first round will advance to the final round. Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2024 The four dunkers will compete in the two-round contest, with five judges scoring each dunk from 40 to 50. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024 The Nuggets collectively are well-accustomed to handling Jokic’s unpredictable dimes, but Gordon bears the brunt of that responsibility in the dunker spot. Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2024 McClung has been known as a prolific dunker since his standout career at Gate City High School (Virginia). Jace Evans, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2023 Top dunkers have evolved from lumbering behemoths to athletes who can sprint the length of the floor in a few strides. Robert O’Connell, WSJ, 27 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dunker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

dunk entry 1

Noun (2)

Pennsylvania German Dunker, from dunke

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1919, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1744, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dunker was in 1744

Dictionary Entries Near dunker

Cite this Entry

“Dunker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dunker. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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