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
Sacbee.com, 3 Dec. 2025
Ewert, who's disabled and depends on an oxygen tank, first stopped by after seeing the nonprofit's mobile market.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Amid escalating interest rates, collapsing land values, and tanking commodity prices, not to mention growing competition from Brazil and Argentina, the development of additional markets became critical.
—Time, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tank
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Noun
The propane tanks by the ice machine were loose, a repeat violation.
—Sacbee.com, 3 Dec. 2025
Ewert, who's disabled and depends on an oxygen tank, first stopped by after seeing the nonprofit's mobile market.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
Verb
The Steelers are currently 6-6 and are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North, and a loss on Sunday could tank their chances of a postseason berth.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Amid escalating interest rates, collapsing land values, and tanking commodity prices, not to mention growing competition from Brazil and Argentina, the development of additional markets became critical.
—Time, 3 Dec. 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 11 Dec. 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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