tank

1 of 2

noun

ˈtaŋk 

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

tankful

ˈtaŋk-ˌfu̇l 

noun

tanklike

ˈtaŋk-ˌlīk 

adjective

see also:

in the tank

tank

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms of tank

Verb

• flop
• collapse
• fail
• bomb
• fold
• strike out
• struggle
• miss

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

Swift, 36, styled a Chiefs graphic tank and acid-wash jeans with a gold chain pendant designed by Catbird, per Page Six. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 21 Sep. 2026

Three of the four are co-ferments, which means the beans are put in anaerobic tanks, where oxygen is extracted and fruit is added. — Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

Verb

Minor league playoff games usually tank, since the kids are back in school and there are no promotions, but that, too, was different in Hartford, even when fortunes on the field don’t match the commercial success. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

He and Fox both got hurt in the same January game, and those injuries tanked any chances the Rangers had of securing a postseason spot. — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1863, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing tank

• anti-tank
• drop tank
• drunk tank
• fish tank
• in the tank
• into the tank
• septic tank
• tank car
• tank destroyer
• tank suit
• tank top
• tank town
• tank up
• think tank

Rhymes for tank

• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank
• dank
• drank
• flank
• franc
• hank
• lank
• plank

Kids Definition

tank

1 of 2 noun

ˈtaŋk 

1

: a usually large container for holding, transporting, or storing liquids

2

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

tank

2 of 2 verb

: to place, store, or treat in a tank