sinker

[ sing-ker ]

noun

1. a person or thing that sinks.
2. a person employed in sinking, as one who sinks shafts.
3. a weight, as of lead, for sinking a fishing line or net below the surface of the water.
4. Slang. a doughnut or, sometimes, a biscuit or muffin.
5. Also called sinkerball. Baseball. a fastball that curves downward sharply as it reaches the plate.
6. diesinker ( def ).

sinker

/ ˈsɪŋkə /

noun

1. a weight attached to a fishing line, net, etc, to cause it to sink in water
2. a person who sinks shafts, etc
3. an informal word for doughnut
4. hook, line, and sinker
   See hook

Other Words From

• sink·er·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinker¹

First recorded in 1520–30; 1870–75 in the sense “doughnut“; 1930–35 in the baseball sense; sink + -er ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see hook, line, and sinker .

Example Sentences

The Pirates also showed him data that suggested he throw fewer sinkers and put his four-seamer at the top of the zone.

From Washington Post

This is important for Wheeler’s ability to miss bats, since hitters have whiffed at his slider on over 30 percent of total swings since the start of the 2020 season, while whiffing at his sinker on under 20 percent of total swings.

From FiveThirtyEight

Another scored once Corbin plucked Mathisen with a high sinker.

From Washington Post

He battled to another full count, slicing a sinker into the seats beyond third base.

From Washington Post

His sinker hovered around 94 mph but was too often up in the zone.

From Washington Post

Plus, Fox, for many years, drove the agenda that the other cable nets swallowed hook, line, and sinker.

From The Daily Beast

Her hairdresser in Malibu filled her in, and after studying every episode she was “hooked, line and sinker,” and signed on.

From The Daily Beast

And yet, Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) took the bait hook, line, and sinker, posting about the outrageous story on his Facebook page.

From The Daily Beast

He said his reason was sharks but really it was because MCD was a sinker.

From The Daily Beast

He therefore gave the order to have the fresh buoy, with its chain and sinker, ready to let go.

From Project Gutenberg

Before long we will have to take every tool maker and die-sinker in non-war work and put him in war production.'

From Project Gutenberg

A horn spear, with barbs, and a fine shell sinker, shows that they lived on fish.

From Project Gutenberg

Miette had mechanically placed the sinker above the glass of water.

From Project Gutenberg

It consists of a float with a sinker at one end and a graduated tube or rod at the other.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bun
• pastry