SINKING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does sinking mean? 

• SINKING (noun)
  The noun SINKING has 3 senses:

1. a descent as through liquid (especially through water)

2. a slow fall or decline (as for lack of strength)

3. a feeling caused by uneasiness or apprehension

  Familiarity information: SINKING used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SINKING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A descent as through liquid (especially through water)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

they still talk about the sinking of the Titanic

Hypernyms ("sinking" is a kind of...):

descent (a movement downward)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sinking"):

settling; subsidence; subsiding (a gradual sinking to a lower level)

immersion; submergence; submerging; submersion (sinking until covered completely with water)

foundering; going under ((of a ship) sinking)

Derivation:

sink (go under)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A slow fall or decline (as for lack of strength)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

he could not control the sinking of his legs

Hypernyms ("sinking" is a kind of...):

decrease; drop-off; lessening (a change downward)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A feeling caused by uneasiness or apprehension

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

sinking; sinking feeling

Context example:

a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach

Hypernyms ("sinking" is a kind of...):

anxiety (a vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune)

 Context examples 

After a long spell she seemed sinking off to sleep, but with an effort seemed to pull herself together and shook it off.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Desired the information!” said Mrs. Markleham, sinking on the sofa.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

One leap more and his teeth would be sinking into it.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The Martinez was sinking fast, for the water was very near.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

For three days he has been sinking, and I doubt if he will last the day.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Oz himself is the Great Wizard," answered the Witch, sinking her voice to a whisper.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

“I am already sad in heart for what I have done,” said he, sitting down on the bank, and sinking his face into his hands.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They then sat down, and when her inquiries after Rosings were made, seemed in danger of sinking into total silence.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“Hum!” said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I have de goot news, Sir Charles,” said he, sinking his voice as one who speaks of weighty measures.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)