dunk

verb \ ˈdəŋk \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Examples: dunk in a Sentence

Definition of dunk

transitive verb

1 : to dip (something, such as a piece of bread) into a beverage while eating

2 : to dip or submerge temporarily in liquid

3 : to throw (a basketball) into the basket from above the rim

intransitive verb

1 : to submerge oneself in water

2 : to make a dunk shot in basketball

See dunk defined for English-language learners

See dunk defined for kids

Examples of dunk in a Sentence

I like to dunk my doughnut in my coffee.
She dunked him while they were swimming.
He dunked the ladle into the soup.
He could dunk when he was 16.

Recent Examples of dunk from the Web

Walker was heard in the video telling Porter that hats were allowed if they were not dunked in the water.

— kathleen joyce, Fox News, "Tennessee woman fired after calling cops on black man wearing socks in neighborhood pool," 7 July 2018
These pedicures involve dunking your feet in a tub of water filled with tiny fish called Garra rufa.

— temi adebowale, Marie Claire, "A Woman's Toenails Fell Off After a Fish Pedicure," 3 July 2018
After Washington's Markieff Morris dunked with 4:06 left, Wright replied with a 3 and, after a missed shot by Wall, converted a layup off a pass from DeRozan to give the Raptors a 99-93 lead with 2:59 remaining.

— ian harrison, baltimoresun.com, "DeRozan, Raptors put Wizards in 3-2 hole with Game 5 win, 108-98," 25 Apr. 2018
If Donald Trump gets dunked on by another court of law, how unhinged will his ensuing tweetstom be?

— jay willis, GQ, "What Mueller Can Do If Donald Trump Fires Him," 19 Mar. 2018
But JaMychael Green dunked with 46.9 seconds left off a nifty pass from Marc Gasol, who had rebounded Evans’ missed 3-pointer.

— k.c. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Bulls eke out victory over Grizzlies but drop to 9th in draft lottery standings," 15 Mar. 2018
San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay (22) reacts after dunking between Golden State Warriors center JaVale McGee (1) and forward Draymond Green (23) during first half action Thursday April 19, 2018 at the AT&T Center.

— mike finger, San Antonio Express-News, "Gay, Spurs were a perfect fit — with lousy timing," 19 June 2018
The companion peppermint jelly conditioner provides an intense chilling effect (like dunking your head in an ice bucket on a hot day).

— kari molvar, Vogue, "The Supercharged Detox Ingredient That’s Missing From Your Shampoo," 14 June 2018
In the second half of Cleveland’s Game 4 rout in the 2017 N.B.A. finals, LeBron James flung the ball off the backboard underhanded from behind the free-throw line and dunked home the ball off the glass.

— scott cacciola, New York Times, "Kevin Durant Pulls Warriors Closer to Another N.B.A. Title," 7 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dunk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dunk

Pennsylvania German dunke, from Middle High German dunken, from Old High German dunkōn — more at tinge

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1919

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

dunk Synonyms

Synonyms

dip, douse (also dowse), duck, immerse, sop, souse, submerge, submerse;

Related Words

bathe, moisten, soak, steep, wet;

drench, drown, flood;

dive, plunge, thrust;

dunk

noun

Definition of dunk

: the act or action of dunking; especially : dunk shot

See dunk defined for English-language learners

Examples of dunk in a Sentence

The pass led to a dunk.

Recent Examples of dunk from the Web

Returning is Azubuike, who set the NCAA single-season record for dunks this decade last season.

— jesse newell, kansascity, "We shouldn't overreact to a KU hoops scrimmage. But here's one prediction for 2018-19," 13 June 2018
But limiting JaVale McGee and Shaun Livingston and eliminating the easy dunks and layups that occurred with frequency in Game 2 is paramount for the Cavs.

— jeff zillgitt, USA TODAY, "LeBron James, Cavaliers frustrated but not deflated after Game 2 Finals loss," 4 June 2018
Most of those points for the defending champs came on wide-open layups or dunks that were a result of miscommunication by New Orleans.

— william guillory, NOLA.com, "Pelicans stressing discipline on defense heading into Game 2," 1 May 2018
Those Kelly Olynyk successful fake handoffs for layups or dunks?

— ira winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Winderman: Heat's 2017-18 MVP? Has to be Goran Dragic | Commentary," 7 Apr. 2018
Offensively, Johnson flashed his biggest gift Tuesday, getting to the rim for layups and dunks and finishing at a high percentage.

— manny navarro, miamiherald, "Maybe a playoff series against LeBron James and these Cavs is what Heat needs | Miami Herald," 28 Mar. 2018
There was a moment midway through the first quarter when a couple of Pacers defenders around the rim seemed resigned to a dunk or a layup as Simmons left his feet following a nifty fake crossover that opened up a clear path to drive.

— david murphy, Philly.com, "Despite loss, Sixers and Ben Simmons have big things to come | David Murphy," 13 Mar. 2018
Trent Forrest and Angola stole the show in the second half for FSU, with Forrest consistently finding Angola streaking for layups and dunks.

— katherine wright, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Emotional Braian Angola helps lead FSU to win over Boston College in regular season finale," 4 Mar. 2018
Smith scored all five of his points in the second half, including a dunk and a layup in transition.

— ben bolch, latimes.com, "Why UCLA might want a tougher opponent to open the Pac-12 tournament," 4 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of dunk

circa 1944

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, secondary, ultimate

DUNK Defined for English Language Learners

dunk

verb

Definition of dunk for English Language Learners

: to dip (food) quickly into a liquid (such as coffee or milk) while eating
: to push (someone or something) under water or other liquid for a short amount of time
basketball : to jump high in the air and push (the ball) down through the basket