sunken

adjective

sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən 

1

: submerged

especially : lying at the bottom of a body of water

2

a

: hollow, recessed

sunken cheeks

b

: lying in a depression

a sunken garden

c

: settled below the normal level

d

: constructed below the normal floor level

a sunken living room

Synonyms

• concave
• dented
• depressed
• dished
• hollow
• indented
• recessed

Examples of sunken in a Sentence

Her eyes were sunken and lifeless.

our convalescing guest's sunken cheeks soon filled out on a diet of my mother's cooking

Recent Examples on the Web

The sunken living room had two steps, which the couple worried might be a tripping hazard. —Joyce Cohen, New York Times, 1 May 2025

My new favourite spot nearby was a long, sunken garden, complete with stone fountains, a gravelly terrace, and grand staircases sprawling down from street level. —Hazlitt, 12 Mar. 2025

Think of it as a sunken, outside sitting room for year-round entertaining. —Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025

Photo : West Coast Modern Double-height ceilings and light and drama to the sunken living room. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sonkyn, past participle of sinken to sink

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sunken

• drunken
• shrunken

Kids Definition

sunken

adjective

sunk·​en ˈsəŋ-kən 

1

: being submerged

especially : lying at the bottom of a body of water

sunken ships

2

: fallen in : hollow

sunken cheeks

3

a

: lying in a depression

a sunken garden

b

: constructed below the normal floor level

a sunken living room