dunk

1 of 2

verb

ˈdəŋk 

dunked; dunking; dunks

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 see also dunk on

intransitive verb

1

: to submerge oneself in water

2

: to make a dunk shot in basketball

dunk

2 of 2

noun

: the act or action of dunking

especially : dunk shot

Synonyms of dunk

Verb

• dip
• duck

Examples of dunk in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

The pass led to a dunk.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Self praised Council for setting up several of Bidunga’s dunks off lobs. —Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2026

In homage to the Dead, Speirs created tie-dye shirts with an image of a dunking skeleton and the colors of the Lithuanian flag, a version of which still sells. —Alex Valdes, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026

Noun

Edwards hit a shot in the lane and Smith responded with a dunk. —Tom Carothers, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026

Rookie watch Second-round pick Noah Penda provided a small spark with a pair of first-half dunks — the first off a steal late in the opening frame and the second in transition off an assist from Bane early in the second quarter. —Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

1926, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1932, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dunk

• dunk on
• dunk shot

Rhymes for dunk

• bunk
• chunk
• clunk
• drunk
• hunk
• junk
• punk
• shrunk
• slunk
• spunk
• sunk
• trunk

Kids Definition

dunk

verb

ˈdəŋk

1

: to dip (as a doughnut) into liquid (as coffee)

2

: to plunge oneself into water