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

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

Phrases

in the tank or into the tank

: in or into a decline or slump

the sullen student's grades went into the tank

Synonyms

Verb

• bomb
• collapse
• crater
• fail
• flame out
• flop
• flunk
• fold
• founder
• miss
• strike out
• wash out

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

The tanks were drained last year, but Baehr told CBS News in 2023 that the military didn't do much to help individual families. —CBS News, 9 May 2025

The style is quite versatile; half-tuck a top into it, pull on a cropped tank and cardigan, and finish the look with loafers, kitten heels, or fisherman sandals. —Malia Griggs, Glamour, 9 May 2025

Verb

Construction of single-family homes gained some ground last year, but building permits for multi-family housing began tanking in St. Paul even before neighboring cities. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 May 2025

To be even more fair, her trust in Nick singlehandedly got lots of women killed and tanked Mayday’s biggest operation yet. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 6 May 2025

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
• 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