dunk

1 of 2

verb

ˈdəŋk 

dunked; dunking; dunks

transitive verb

1

: to dip (something, such as a piece of bread) into a beverage while eating

2

: to dip or submerge temporarily in liquid

3

: to throw (a basketball) into the basket from above the rim see also dunk on

intransitive verb

1

: to submerge oneself in water

2

: to make a dunk shot in basketball

dunk

2 of 2

noun

: the act or action of dunking

especially : dunk shot

Synonyms

Verb

• dip
• duck
• immerse

Examples of dunk in a Sentence

Verb

I like to dunk my doughnut in my coffee.

She dunked him while they were swimming.

He dunked the ladle into the soup.

He could dunk when he was 16.

Noun

The pass led to a dunk.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The rim is made with durable metal with a 90-degree hinge, allowing players of all ages to dunk with ease. —Anja Webb, Parents, 24 Sep. 2025

Sure, the Oreo itself did its job, because Oreos rarely disappoint, but the heavy batter it was dunked in had the texture and flavor of a bad pancake. —Endia Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025

Noun

Neither were slam-dunk decisions in those spots and both have pushed their way into the fringes of franchise-player territory. —The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025

Buy dunks, a form of mosquito larvicide, to kill mosquito larvae in standing water that can't be drained. —Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Pennsylvania German dunke, from Middle High German dunken, from Old High German dunkōn — more at tinge

First Known Use

Verb

1926, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1944, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dunk

• dunk on
• dunk shot

Rhymes for dunk

• bunk
• chunk
• clunk
• drunk
• hunk
• junk
• punk
• shrunk
• slunk
• spunk
• sunk
• trunk

Kids Definition

dunk

verb

ˈdəŋk

1

: to dip (as a doughnut) into liquid (as coffee)

2

: to plunge oneself into water