tank

noun

\ ˈtaŋk

Definition of tank

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

4 dialect : pond, pool especially : one built as a water supply

5 : a prison cell or enclosure used especially for receiving prisoners

in the tank or into the tank

: in or into a decline or slump the sullen student's grades went into the tank

tank

verb

tanked; tanking; tanks

Definition of tank (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to make no effort to win : lose intentionally tanked the match

2 : to place, store, or treat in a tank

intransitive verb

1 : to lose intentionally : give up in competition

2 : to suffer rapid decline, failure, or collapse bought a stock that quickly tanked

Other Words from tank Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about tank

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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: Noun

On Laura: Proenza Schouler dress, tank, and sandals; Monica Rich Kosann necklace; David Yurman bracelet. — Allie Holloway, Harper's BAZAAR, "Sarah Chadwick, Laura Dern, & Diane Kruger Fight for Gun Violence Prevention," 20 Feb. 2019 Without power to control the pumps or control the filling of the ballast tanks, the dry dock completely submerged. — Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica, "Russia’s only aircraft carrier damaged as its floating dry dock sinks," 30 Oct. 2018 Strike the right balance by pairing your cutest jeans with an off-the-shoulder tee or a strappy tank—something that's a little more fun than you're go to school look. — Seventeen, "7 Tips to Rock Your First Date!," 30 Oct. 2018 But private-sector defense workers make up less than 0.5 percent of the total US labor force, and that includes every person whose job depends directly on the sale or production of airplanes, tanks, bombs, and services for the entire US military. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "“It’s not going to create or take away a single job”: Why Trump’s excuse on the Saudis doesn’t hold up," 21 Oct. 2018 An Instagram post announcing the line a week prior featured model and body positivity activist La'Shaunae Steward in a simple white tank, underwear, and socks. — Bartie Scott, Teen Vogue, "Universal Standard's Size 00-40 Line Is Now Available," 18 Oct. 2018 Aside from a new gas tank, spark plugs, wires, fuel pump, fuel filter, air filter and fuel sending unit, the car is all-original and the replaced parts have been preserved and are included with the sale. — Gary Gastelu, Fox News, "1987 Buick Grand National parked since 1991 up for auction with 74 miles on it," 25 Sep. 2018 Like changing to a backup gas tank, the body switches from glucose to fatty acids, a more efficient fuel. — Mark Barna, Discover Magazine, "Not So Fast," 24 Sep. 2018 Nearby residents cheered last December as a crew tore down the tank, which was sold by the company for $10 in 2005 and has been an eyesore ever since. — Brian Slodysko, The Courier-Journal, "Cleanup of Pence family's failed gas stations cost Indiana taxpayers $20M," 13 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Student loans, even those that financed worthless degrees, won’t tank the financial system: there aren’t enough and most are federally guaranteed. — WSJ, "Corrections & Amplifications," 11 Sep. 2018 Being able to dive behind cover and heal when necessary makes players slightly harder to kill and allows you, in some situations, to even tank damage in order to get a retaliatory kill. — Julie Muncy, Ars Technica, "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 review: War games, now with battle royale!," 19 Oct. 2018 Apparently, last summer at the White House picnic, Collins got an email telling him his major investment was tanking. — Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, "The Week in Washington: Is the Blue Wave Spooking “Your Favorite President?”," 12 Aug. 2018 Meanwhile, global stocks have tanked in the past quarter, reversing gains earlier in the year, as analysts fret over slowing global growth and trade tensions between the U.S. and China. — Avantika Chilkoti, WSJ, "The Best Investments of 2018? Art, Wine and Cars," 31 Dec. 2018 On Friday, this news tanked the company’s stock, which dropped 11 percent. — Cheryl Wischhover, Vox, "Johnson & Johnson accused of hiding the asbestos in its baby powder for decades," 14 Dec. 2018 But its sales tanked last fall as potential buyers waited for the 2018 model — the car’s first redesign — to reach dealerships. — David R. Baker, San Francisco Chronicle, "PG&E customers can get $3,000 off the new Nissan Leaf — for now," 25 Apr. 2018 The bad news is that resolution tanked as a result. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "Diablo 3, Untitled Goose Game lead PAX West’s Nintendo Switch lineup," 4 Sep. 2018 Top stories from Recode The social communications company’s stock tanked on negative user growth, but CEO Jack Dorsey think efforts to clean up the service will pay off down the line. — Recode Staff, Recode, "Recode Daily: Apple and Tesla head up this week’s earnings lineup," 30 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tank.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.