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

Now on sale for $94, this casual piece is ideal for long travel days, tying the look of a henley tank and wide-leg pants together into one wearable outfit. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2024

That turned into a long-running standoff in the rugged mountainous area, where each side has stationed tens of thousands of soldiers backed by artillery, tanks and fighter jets. —Ashok Sharma, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024

Verb

Its brand reputation started to tank immediately after the Olympics, according to RepTrak, a corporate reputation tracking company and advisor on brand reputation. —Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

The 1600 Newsletter: Is Joe Biden trying to tank the election for Kamala Harris? —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

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

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