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 of sunken

• concave
• hollow
• depressed

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

Tell me about the sunken living room. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026

The sunken screening rooms in each villa are furnished with games and videos, and a large screen will also entertain the offspring. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

The finished basement has a sunken media room and a bar area. —Saleema Syed, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

Their sunken design was also spatially functional, and important during a time when home entertaining was critical for socializing. —Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 12 Apr. 2026

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