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

Photo: Anton Brookes, H5 Property/Douglas Elliman/H5 Property The sunken living room is set off with dark glass panels and backed by a wall of mirrors. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 31 Oct. 2024

In the sunken lounge area, Eckley installed a fireplace in the retaining wall. —Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2024

Inside the former church was a sunken living room with comfortably oversize seating arranged around a fireplace, an enormous kitchen and dining area with a ceiling crossed by rough-hewn wooden beams, and a grand bedroom that had the presence of a theater set. —Peter Terzian, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2024

There’s also a sunken garden for meditation and tranquil views of Lake Watauga. —Kate Donnelly, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sonkyn, past participle of sinken to sink

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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