sunken

adjective

sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən How to pronounce sunken (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ancient Rome sits around 23 feet below the current street level, which means many ancient monuments like the Pantheon appear sunken. Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025 It may be yellowed, have dark spots or sunken lesions, Kondrat says. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025 Owners may never visit the resort’s communal pool and club room, as the deck features a 750-square-foot infinity pool with integrated loungers, plus a sunken lounge and a covered dining area next to an outdoor kitchen. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2025 This fungal disease appears as gray blotches on the bark, eventually developing into sunken cankers. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sunken

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sonkyn, past participle of sinken to sink

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sunken was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sunken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunken. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sunken

adjective
sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən How to pronounce sunken (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on sunken

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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