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
• douse
• dowse
• duck
• immerse
• sop
• souse
• submerge
• submerse

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

In addition to the concert, there will be three-point and dunk contests as well as appearances from players on the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2024

Then, dunk the clothes in the water and allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes to an hour or longer before tossing in the wash. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2024

Noun

Slowly as the game wore on James played with more confidence — making his first three of the preseason and catching a lob from Olivari for his first dunk as a pro. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024

His dunks, whether in Slam Dunk contests, Olympics or just regular-season games, made Carter must-see TV early in his career. —Brian Mahoney, The Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2024

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

Kids Definition

dunk

verb

ˈdəŋk

1

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

2

: to plunge oneself into water