tank

noun \ ˈtaŋk \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: tank in a Sentence

Definition of tank

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

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tankful

play \ˈtaŋk-ˌfu̇l\ noun

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tanklike

play \ˈtaŋk-ˌlīk\ adjective

— in the tank or into the tank

: in or into a decline or slump

the sullen student's grades went into the tank

See tank defined for English-language learners

See tank defined for kids

Recent Examples of tank from the Web

When the water is drained, all that will remain in the tank are her bones and dental fillings.

— emily atkin, The New Republic, "The Fight for the Right to Be Cremated by Water," 14 June 2018
The people that would come in to cut hair, the massage, the fish tank in the lobby.

— albert williams, Chicago Reader, "The 1980s AIDS epidemic in Chicago revisited in Rebecca Makkai’s new novel, The Great Believers," 14 June 2018
Team owner fleeced the city for a sweetheart stadium deal and the team’s in the tank?

— dan sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Should the Marlins bring back teal permanently and re-rebrand as the Florida Marlins?," 5 June 2018
Does LeBron James have enough left in the tank to take down the defending champs?

— rick bonnell, charlotteobserver, "Biggest of 7 burning NBA Finals questions? What, if anything, is LeBron James' limit.," 30 May 2018
Does LeBron James have enough left in the tank to take down the defending champs?

— jason jones, sacbee, "George Hill had his ‘confidence zapped.’ Now he's living a ‘dream come true’ with Cavs," 30 May 2018
LeBron James’ energy level was the big talking point after the Cleveland Cavaliers fell on the road in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics, and fans and analysts are now wondering what James has left in the tank.

— nick schwartz, For The Win, "6 good reasons for LeBron James to be exhausted," 25 May 2018
Two girls swooped in, picked it up, and dropped it back in the tank — only to be punished for touching it.

— evan allen, BostonGlobe.com, "Elizabeth Warren tells Lesley graduates to speak out and fight for their dreams," 19 May 2018
As a last resort, use methyl alcohol instead of washer fluid in the tank.

— mike allen, Popular Mechanics, "Debunking 5 Cold-Weather Car Myths," 15 May 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.

Origin and Etymology of tank

Portuguese tanque, alteration of estanque, from estancar to stanch, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *stanticare — more at stanch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1609

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year

tank

verb

Definition of tank

tanked; tanking; tanks

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

See tank defined for English-language learners

Examples of tank in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of tank from the Web

Advisers predicted that European markets would tank if Trump didn’t.

— brian bennett, Time, "This Is What Trump’s Impulsive Diplomacy Looks Like," 14 June 2018
That's four more than Philadelphia, a franchise that was openly tanking for years before turning things around this season.

— tim reynolds, Houston Chronicle, "Magic hire Steve Clifford as head coach," 30 May 2018
As for this year, the rules have yet to go into effect, and a team that openly tanked like Memphis has the second-best chance at the No. 1 pick and a team that actually admitted to tanking like Dallas has the third-best chance.

— benjamin hoffman and victor mather, New York Times, "N.B.A. Draft Order Is Set With Phoenix Suns at No. 1," 16 May 2018
Not bad for the squad that tanked the previous four seasons.

— keith pompey, Philly.com, "Brett Brown, Sixers agree to three-year contract extension," 31 May 2018
The conservatives who tanked that bill are demanding (and will get) a vote on an immigration proposal that doesn't have the support to pass.

— phil mattingly, CNN, "Why it's been a rough week for House Republicans," 22 May 2018
Axe is pissed at Taylor for purposely tanking the meeting, but Taylor says there should have been a discussion among them before pursuing Grigor’s money.

— refinery29.com, "Billions Season 3, Episode 9 Recap: "Sitting Here In The Dark, Like An Assassin"," 21 May 2018
The state boomed until 2014, when crashing oil prices combined with tax cuts to tank revenues.

— margaret newkirk, Bloomberg.com, "The Kochs Helped Slash State Taxes. Now Teachers Are in the Streets," 16 May 2018
But time and time again, teams decide it’s much cheaper, Zimbalist says, to tank.

— roy bragg, San Antonio Express-News, "Tanks for the memories," 29 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of tank

1863

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

tank Synonyms

Phrases

come a cropper, come to grief, come up empty, die on the vine, fall flat, fall on one's face, fall short, lay an egg;

TANK Defined for English Language Learners

tank

noun

Definition of tank for English Language Learners

: a container for holding a liquid or gas
: the amount that a tank will hold
: a military vehicle that moves on two large metal belts with wheels inside them and that is covered in heavy armor

tank

verb

Definition of tank for English Language Learners

: to be very unsuccessful : to fail completely
: to make no effort to win a contest (such as a tennis match) : to deliberately lose a game, match, etc.