Phrase guide

sinking feeling

noun · 2 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌsɪŋkɪŋ ˈfiːlɪŋ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˌsɪŋkɪŋ ˈfilɪŋ/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -iːlɪŋ

1

noun

Meaning 1

An unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a feeling caused by uneasiness or apprehension

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • with a sinking heart
  • a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sinking

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: anxiety

History

Etymology

From sinking (noun) + feeling (noun), from the physical sensation.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: sensació mala — unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness
  • Finnish: mahanpohjasta ottaminen — unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness
  • French: sensation mauvaise — unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness
  • Italian: senso malo — unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness
  • Italian: sensazione mala — unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness
  • Latin: sēnsus malus — unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness
  • Portuguese: sensação má — unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness
  • Punjabi: ਹੌਲ (haul) — unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness
  • Spanish: sensación mala — unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness