tank

1 of 2

noun

ˈtaŋk

Synonyms of tank next

: a usually large receptacle for holding, transporting, or storing liquids (such as water or fuel)

: an enclosed heavily armed and armored combat vehicle that moves on tracks

: tank top

dialect : pond, pool

especially : one built as a water supply

: a prison cell or enclosure used especially for receiving prisoners

tankful

ˈtaŋk-ˌfu̇l

noun

tanklike

ˈtaŋk-ˌlīk

adjective

tank

2 of 2

verb

tanked; tanking; tanks

transitive verb

: to make no effort to win : lose intentionally

tanked the match

: to place, store, or treat in a tank

intransitive verb

: to lose intentionally : give up in competition

: to suffer rapid decline, failure, or collapse

bought a stock that quickly tanked

Phrases

in the tank or into the tank

: in or into a decline or slump

the sullen student's grades went into the tank

Example Sentences

Verb Some people say she deliberately tanked the match. Some people have accused her of tanking.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mix and match the skirt with a white tank or pair it with matching bandeau for a punchy monochromatic look. —

Sophie Dweck, townandcountrymag.com, 18 May 2023 In a January video, President Joe Biden talked about tanks. —

Trisha Ahmed, Fortune, 11 May 2023 Her baby blue dolphin tank looked straight from our childhood wardrobes. —

Briannah Rivera, Seventeen, 10 May 2023 In the basement, there’s also a sensory deprivation tank, multiple wine rooms, and a swanky movie theater. —

Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 May 2023 Scientists have long called for the screening of wastewater from toilet tanks on arriving airplanes as an early warning system for detecting new variants. —

Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 May 2023 There’s also a power mop nozzle attachment, which includes washable microfiber pads and a removable water tank, which converts the vacuum to a mop for cleaning tile and hardwood floors with tap water. —

Terri Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2023 Some divers bring all their own gear (except the dive tanks). —

Scott Mcmurren, Anchorage Daily News, 6 May 2023 The explosion was caused by a tank mine buried in the road, the television report said. —

Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 6 May 2023

Verb

But, first, players don’t tank. —

Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Apr. 2023 As a result, vinyl record sales started to tank. —

Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Mar. 2023 For the Pacers to tank? —

Nat Newell, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2022 Mullin received some $1.4 million in federal PPP loans and was among the members of Congress who helped tank the TRUTH Act, which would have required public disclosure of companies receiving those relief funds. —

Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 29 Mar. 2023 The crash set off a market meltdown that tanked the prices of popular digital coins like Bitcoin and Ether and sent the crypto industry into crisis. —

Karoun Demirjian, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2023 Some of the market's sharpest drops again came from the financial industry, where stocks tanked for a second day. —

Stan Choe, ajc, 10 Mar. 2023 That approach, in turn, led to the current play-in system, first put into place in 2021 as a means of incentivizing teams not to tank late-season games in favor of lottery position. —

Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2023 Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Our rating: False The M1 Abrams tanks President Joe Biden said would be sent to Ukraine have not yet arrived. —

Molly Stellino, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tank.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.