German word

versenken

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈzɛŋkən/

Meaning

  • verbsink

Example

Der Kapitän versenkte das beschädigte Schiff.

The captain sank the damaged ship.

Illustration for versenken (sink)

More examples

Bei dem Sturm wurde das kleine Fischerboot versenkt.

The small fishing boat was sunk in the storm.

Core concept

An object is deliberately driven below a surface until it disappears or can no longer serve its purpose.

Common phrases

  • ein Frachtschiff versenken

    sink a cargo ship

  • ein Fischerboot versenken

    sink a fishing boat

  • Kapital in ein Projekt versenken

    sink capital into a project

Similar words

versinken: Gradually sink beneath the water and disappear without outside help or force.
untergehen: Sink below the surface and become completely submerged.
sinken: Move downward naturally in position, level, value, or amount.
senken: Deliberately lower a water level, price, or similar measure.

Definition in German

absichtlich etwas ins Wasser oder auf den Grund bringen, sodass es untergeht oder seine Funktion verliert.

Word origin

German versenken combines the prefix ver- with senken, an inherited verb meaning to lower, and denotes causing something to go down into depth.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English sink, versenken is normally transitive for deliberately making something sink, while sinken describes the object going down by itself.

Other meanings

  • scuttleverb
  • submergeverb
  • buryverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Versenkungsinkingnoun
  • versenkbarsinkableadjective

Word lists with this word