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

Submerge the berries in the water-vinegar bath, gently agitate the water with your hand, dunking the berries several times. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 17 July 2026

Come for all the doggie high jinks – thanks to a ton of animatronic animals and a John Hughes screenplay – and stay for Close getting dunked in a vat of molasses. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Noun

That included a monster dunk in traffic near the end of the Grizzlies’ game against Golden State — quite a feat for a player listed at 6-1 and 190 pounds. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 22 July 2026

The dunks There also were ample moments of remarkable athleticism over the four-year Heat run. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 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
• slam dunk

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