Phrase guide

sink in

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To become completely known, felt, or understood.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • He knows he's been naughty, but it will take a while for it to sink in.
  • The gravity of what I had done hadn't sunken in yet.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • It dawned on him that she had betrayed him
  • she was penetrated with sorrow

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: click, get through, dawn, come home, get across, penetrate, fall into place

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

pass through

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Water permeates sand easily

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: percolate, permeate, filter

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: penetrate, perforate

Narrower terms: infiltrate

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: разбирам (razbiram) — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Bulgarian: асимилирам (asimiliram) — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Dutch: inzinken — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Finnish: valjeta — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Finnish: mennä perille — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Finnish: tulla ymmärretyksi — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • German: richtig ankommen — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Hungarian: leülepedik — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Italian: assimilarsi — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Norwegian Bokmål: synke inn — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Norwegian Bokmål: gå inn — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Portuguese: cair a ficha — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Portuguese: assimilar — to become completely known, felt, or understood
  • Spanish: asimilar — to become completely known, felt, or understood