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

The mission will require plumbing the depths for a sunken Russian sub, hanging from the wing of a biplane – and no less than an aircraft carrier. —Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

Historians believe the sunken vessel could be the Demming or the Overton, both of which sank before 1900. —Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 28 Nov. 2025

Snorkelers and divers can explore the sunken art, which aims to blend public art and marine conservation along Miami’s coastline. —Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2025

Colombia Culture Ministry The ship has been the subject of a legal battle in the United States, Colombia and Spain over who owns the rights to the sunken treasure. —CBS News, 21 Nov. 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