sunken

adjective

sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən 

1

: submerged

especially : lying at the bottom of a body of water

2

a

: hollow, recessed

sunken cheeks

b

: lying in a depression

a sunken garden

c

: settled below the normal level

d

: constructed below the normal floor level

a sunken living room

Synonyms

• concave
• dented
• depressed
• dished
• hollow
• indented
• recessed

Examples of sunken in a Sentence

Her eyes were sunken and lifeless.

our convalescing guest's sunken cheeks soon filled out on a diet of my mother's cooking

Recent Examples on the Web

Think of it as a sunken, outside sitting room for year-round entertaining. —Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025

Photo : West Coast Modern Double-height ceilings and light and drama to the sunken living room. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2025

Luxury hotels, houses, and dining spots, painted in pastel shades, earthy tones and classic white, now cling to the dramatic caldera rim that frames the ancient sunken volcano hidden below the Aegean’s navy waters. —Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2025

At the reopening, just before Christmas, officials announced that only 400 people at a time would be allowed into the sunken area in front. —Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sonkyn, past participle of sinken to sink

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sunken

• drunken
• shrunken

Kids Definition

sunken

adjective

sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən 

1

: being submerged

especially : lying at the bottom of a body of water

sunken ships

2

: fallen in : hollow

sunken cheeks

3

a

: lying in a depression

a sunken garden

b

: constructed below the normal floor level

a sunken living room