Drink vs. Sink — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 9, 2024
Drink refers to the act of consuming liquids, whereas sink refers to a basin used for washing or a process of submerging in water.
Difference Between Drink and Sink
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Drink involves the consumption of liquids for hydration or pleasure, whereas sink primarily denotes a fixed basin with a drain used for washing hands, dishes, and other tasks.
While drinking is an action performed by animals and humans to intake fluids, sinking can describe an object or person going down below the surface of a liquid, often water.
Drinks can be a variety of beverages such as water, tea, coffee, or soft drinks, each serving different tastes and purposes. On the other hand, a sink in a household or industrial setting is typically designed to accommodate the needs of cleaning and disposal.
The verb "to drink" is an essential human activity for survival, emphasizing the intake of liquids. In contrast, the verb "to sink" might indicate decreasing levels or failing, such as in water or other scenarios like financial "sinking."
In culinary contexts, drinks accompany meals or serve as refreshment. Sinks, conversely, play a crucial role in the preparation and cleanup processes in kitchens and bathrooms.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To consume liquids.
A basin or to go below the water's surface.
Usage in Daily Life
Drinking water, beverages.
Washing hands, dishes.
Related Equipment
Glasses, cups, bottles.
Faucets, plumbing.
Physical State Involved
Liquids only.
Solid basin; involves liquids and solids.
Typical Contexts
Meals, hydration, socializing.
Kitchens, bathrooms, utility areas.
Compare with Definitions
Drink
To take in or absorb.
The soil drinks up the rain quickly after a drought.
Sink
To descend or submerge under water or another liquid.
The boat began to sink rapidly.
Drink
To toast or celebrate with a beverage.
They drink to each other's health.
Sink
A depression or hole in a surface.
There's a sink in the garden where water gathers.
Drink
Consuming a liquid.
She likes to drink tea in the afternoon.
Sink
To lower or depress in level.
Her spirits sink whenever she hears sad news.
Drink
A specific type of beverage, often alcoholic.
He ordered a drink at the bar.
Sink
To invest in a losing venture.
He sank all his savings into the failed business.
Drink
Any liquid that is potable.
Water is the most essential drink for humans.
Sink
A basin fitted with a drain for holding water.
He washed his hands in the bathroom sink.
Drink
A drink (or beverage) is a liquid intended for human consumption. In addition to their basic function of satisfying thirst, drinks play important roles in human culture.
Sink
Rapidly consume (an alcoholic drink)
English players sinking a few post-match lagers
Drink
To take into the mouth and swallow (a liquid).
Sink
A sink – also known by other names including sinker, washbowl, hand basin, wash basin, and simply basin – is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture used for washing hands, dishwashing, and other purposes. Sinks have taps (faucets) that supply hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing.
Drink
To swallow the liquid contents of (a vessel)
Drank a cup of tea.
Sink
Go down below the surface of something, especially of a liquid; become submerged
He saw the coffin sink below the surface of the waves
Drink
To take in or soak up; absorb
Drank the fresh air.
Spongy earth that drank up the rain.
Sink
Descend from a higher to a lower position; drop downwards
You can relax on the veranda as the sun sinks low
Drink
To take in eagerly through the senses or intellect
Drank in the beauty of the day.
Sink
Gradually decrease or decline in value, amount, quality, or intensity
Their output sank to a third of the pre-war figure
Drink
To give or make (a toast).
Sink
Insert beneath a surface
Rails fixed in place with screws sunk below the surface of the wood
Drink
To toast (a person or an occasion, for example)
We'll drink your health.
Sink
A fixed basin with a water supply and outflow pipe
A sink unit with cupboard and drawers under
I stood at the kitchen sink
Drink
To bring to a specific state by drinking alcoholic beverages
Drank our sorrows away.
Sink
A pool or marsh in which a river's water disappears by evaporation or percolation.
Drink
To swallow liquid
Drank noisily.
Drink from a goblet.
Sink
Short for sinkhole
Drink
To drink alcoholic beverages
They only drink socially.
Sink
A place of vice or corruption
A sink of unnatural vice, pride, and luxury
Drink
To salute a person or an occasion with a toast
We will drink to your continued success.
Sink
To go below the surface of water or another liquid
We watched the leaky inner tube slowly sink.
Drink
A liquid that is fit for drinking; a beverage.
Sink
To descend to the bottom of a body of water or other liquid
Found the wreck where it had sunk.
Drink
An alcoholic beverage, such as a cocktail or beer.
Sink
To fall or drop to a lower level, especially to go down slowly or in stages
The water in the lake sank several feet during the long, dry summer.
Drink
Chiefly Southern US See soft drink. tonic
Sink
To subside or settle gradually
Cracks developed as the building sank.
Drink
An amount of liquid swallowed
Took a long drink from the fountain.
Sink
To appear to move downward, as the sun or moon in setting.
Drink
Liquid for drinking
The host provided food and drink.
Sink
To slope downward; incline
The road sinks as it approaches the stream.
Drink
Excessive or habitual indulgence in alcoholic liquor.
Sink
To fall or lower oneself slowly, as from weakness or fatigue
The exhausted runner sank to the ground.
Drink
(Slang) A body of water; the sea
The hatch cover slid off the boat and into the drink.
Sink
To feel great disappointment or discouragement
Her heart sank within her.
Drink
(ambitransitive) To consume (a liquid) through the mouth.
He drank the water I gave him.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
Sink
To pass into something; penetrate
The claws sank into the flesh of the prey.
Drink
To consume the liquid contained within (a bottle, glass, etc.).
Jack drank the whole bottle by himself.
Sink
To steep or soak
The wine has sunk into my shirt.
Drink
(intransitive) To consume alcoholic beverages.
You've been drinking, haven't you?
No thanks, I don't drink.
Everyone who is drinking is drinking, but not everyone who is drinking is drinking.
Sink
To pass into a specified condition
She sank into a deep sleep.
Drink
(transitive) To take in (a liquid), in any manner; to suck up; to absorb; to imbibe.
Sink
To deteriorate in quality or condition
The patient is sinking fast. The family sank into a state of disgrace.
Drink
(transitive) To take in; to receive within one, through the senses; to inhale; to hear; to see.
Sink
To diminish, as in value
Gold prices are sinking.
Drink
To smoke, as tobacco.
Sink
To become weaker, quieter, or less forceful
His voice sank to a whisper.
Drink
A beverage.
I’d like another drink please.
Sink
To make an impression; become felt or understood
The meaning finally sank in.
Drink
(uncountable) Drinks in general; something to drink
Sink
To cause to descend beneath the surface or to the bottom of a liquid
Sink a ship.
Drink
A type of beverage (usually mixed).
My favourite drink is the White Russian.
Sink
To cause to penetrate deeply
He sank his sword into the dragon's belly.
Drink
A (served) alcoholic beverage.
Can I buy you a drink?
Sink
To force into the ground
Sink a piling.
Drink
The action of drinking, especially with the verbs take or have.
He was about to take a drink from his root beer.
Sink
To dig or drill (a mine or well) in the earth.
Drink
Alcoholic beverages in general.
Sink
To cause to drop or lower
Sank the bucket into the well.
Drink
Any body of water.
If he doesn't pay off the mafia, he’ll wear cement shoes to the bottom of the drink!
Sink
(Sports) To propel (a ball or shot) into a hole, basket, or pocket.
Drink
To swallow anything liquid, for quenching thirst or other purpose; to imbibe; to receive or partake of, as if in satisfaction of thirst; as, to drink from a spring.
Gird thyself, and serve me, till have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink.
He shall drink of the wrath the Almighty.
Drink of the cup that can not cloy.
Sink
To cause to be engrossed
"Frank sank himself in another book" (Patricia Highsmith).
Drink
To quaff exhilarating or intoxicating liquors, in merriment or feasting; to carouse; to revel; hence, to lake alcoholic liquors to excess; to be intemperate in the se of intoxicating or spirituous liquors; to tipple.
And they drank, and were merry with him.
Bolingbroke always spoke freely when he had drunk freely.
I drink to the general joy of the whole table,And to our dear friend Banquo.
Sink
To make weaker, quieter, or less forceful
She sank her voice when the manager walked by.
Drink
To swallow (a liquid); to receive, as a fluid, into the stomach; to imbibe; as, to drink milk or water.
There lies she with the blessed gods in bliss,There drinks the nectar with ambrosia mixed.
The bowl of punch which was brewed and drunk in Mrs. Betty's room.
Sink
To reduce in quantity or worth
The bad news will sink markets around the world.
Drink
To take in (a liquid), in any manner; to suck up; to absorb; to imbibe.
And let the purple violets drink the stream.
Sink
To debase the nature of; degrade
The scandal has sunk him in the eyes of many.
Drink
To take in; to receive within one, through the senses; to inhale; to hear; to see.
To drink the cooler air,
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred wordsOf that tongue's utterance.
Let me . . . drink delicious poison from thy eye.
Sink
To bring to a low or ruined state; defeat or destroy
Loss of advertising sank the newspaper.
Drink
To smoke, as tobacco.
And some men now live ninety years and past,Who never drank to tobacco first nor last.
Sink
To suppress or hide
He sank his arrogance and apologized.
Drink
Liquid to be swallowed; any fluid to be taken into the stomach for quenching thirst or for other purposes, as water, coffee, or decoctions.
Give me some drink, Titinius.
Sink
(Informal) To defeat, as in a game.
Drink
Specifically, intoxicating liquor; as, when drink is on, wit is out.
Sink
To invest or spend, often without getting a return or adequate value
I've sunk a lot of money into that car.
Drink
A single serving of a beverage;
I asked for a hot drink
Likes a drink before dinner
Sink
To pay off (a debt).
Drink
The act of drinking alcoholic beverages to excess;
Drink was his downfall
Sink
A water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe and generally a piped supply of water.
Drink
Any liquid suitable for drinking;
May I take your beverage order?
Sink
A cesspool.
Drink
Any large deep body of water;
He jumped into the drink and had to be rescued
Sink
A sinkhole.
Drink
The act of swallowing;
One swallow of the liquid was enough
He took a drink of his beer and smacked his lips
Sink
A natural or artificial means of absorbing or removing a substance or a form of energy from a system.
Drink
Take in liquids;
The patient must drink several liters each day
The children like to drink soda
Sink
A place regarded as wicked and corrupt
That city is a sink of corruption.
Drink
Consume alcohol;
We were up drinking all night
Sink
To move or be moved into something.
Drink
Propose a toast to;
Let us toast the birthday girl!
Let's drink to the New Year
Sink
(ergative) To descend or submerge (or to cause to do so) into a liquid or similar substance.
A stone sinks in water.
The sun gradually sank in the west.
Drink
Be fascinated or spell-bound by; pay close attention to;
The mother drinks in every word of her son on the stage
Sink
(transitive) To (directly or indirectly) cause a vessel to sink, generally by making it no longer watertight.
An iceberg sank the Titanic.
British battleships sank the Bismarck.
Drink
Drink excessive amounts of alcohol; be an alcoholic;
The husband drinks and beats his wife
Sink
(transitive) To push (something) into something.
The joint will hold tighter if you sink a wood screw through both boards.
The dog sank its teeth into the delivery man's leg.
Sink
(transitive) To make by digging or delving.
To sink a well in the ground
Sink
To pot; hit a ball into a pocket or hole.
Sink
To diminish or be diminished.
Sink
To experience apprehension, disappointment, dread, or momentary depression.
Sink
To cause to decline; to depress or degrade.
To sink one's reputation
Sink
(intransitive) To demean or lower oneself; to do something below one's status, standards, or morals.
Sink
To conceal and appropriate.
Sink
To keep out of sight; to suppress; to ignore.
Sink
To drink (especially something alcoholic).
Sink
To pay absolutely.
I have sunk thousands of pounds into this project.
Sink
To reduce or extinguish by payment.
To sink the national debt
Sink
(intransitive) To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fail in strength.
Sink
To die.
Sink
(intransitive) To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height.
Sink
A basin used for holding water for washing.
Sink
A drain for carrying off wastewater.
Sink
(geology) A sinkhole.
Sink
A depression in land where water collects, with no visible outlet.
Sink
A heat sink.
Sink
A place that absorbs resources or energy.
Sink
(ecology) A habitat that cannot support a population on its own but receives the excess of individuals from some other source.
Sink
(uncountable) Descending motion; descent.
An excessive sink rate at touchdown can cause the aircraft's landing gear to collapse.
Sink
(baseball) The motion of a sinker pitch.
Jones has a two-seamer with heavy sink.
Sink
An object or callback that captures events; an event sink.
Sink
(graph theory) A destination vertex in a transportation network.
Sink
An abode of degraded persons; a wretched place.
Sink
A depression in a stereotype plate.
Sink
(theater) A stage trapdoor for shifting scenery.
Sink
(mining) An excavation smaller than a shaft.
Sink
(game development) One or several systems that remove currency from the game's economy, thus controlling or preventing inflation.
Sink
To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend lower and lower; to decline gradually; to subside; as, a stone sinks in water; waves rise and sink; the sun sinks in the west.
I sink in deep mire.
Sink
To enter deeply; to fall or retire beneath or below the surface; to penetrate.
The stone sunk into his forehead.
Sink
Hence, to enter so as to make an abiding impression; to enter completely.
Let these sayings sink down into your ears.
Sink
To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fall slowly, as so the ground, from weakness or from an overburden; to fail in strength; to decline; to decay; to decrease.
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke.
He sunk down in his chariot.
Let not the fire sink or slacken.
Sink
To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height.
The Alps and Pyreneans sink before him.
Sink
To cause to sink; to put under water; to immerse or submerge in a fluid; as, to sink a ship.
[The Athenians] fell upon the wings and sank a single ship.
Sink
Figuratively: To cause to decline; to depress; to degrade; hence, to ruin irretrievably; to destroy, as by drowping; as, to sink one's reputation.
I raise of sink, imprison or set free.
If I have a conscience, let it sink me.
Thy cruel and unnatural lust of powerHas sunk thy father more than all his years.
Sink
To make (a depression) by digging, delving, or cutting, etc.; as, to sink a pit or a well; to sink a die.
Sink
To bring low; to reduce in quantity; to waste.
You sunk the river repeated draughts.
Sink
To conseal and appropriate.
If sent with ready money to buy anything, and you happen to be out of pocket, sink the money, and take up the goods on account.
Sink
To keep out of sight; to suppress; to ignore.
A courtly willingness to sink obnoxious truths.
Sink
To reduce or extinguish by payment; as, to sink the national debt.
Sink
A drain to carry off filthy water; a jakes.
Sink
A shallow box or vessel of wood, stone, iron, or other material, connected with a drain, and used for receiving filthy water, etc., as in a kitchen.
Sink
A hole or low place in land or rock, where waters sink and are lost; - called also sink hole.
Sink
The lowest part of a natural hollow or closed basin whence the water of one or more streams escapes by evaporation; as, the sink of the Humboldt River.
Sink
Plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe
Sink
(technology) a process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a substance from a system;
The ocean is a sink for carbon dioxide
Sink
A depression in the ground communicating with a subterranean passage (especially in limestone) and formed by solution or by collapse of a cavern roof
Sink
A covered cistern; waste water and sewage flow into it
Sink
Fall or drop to a lower place or level;
He sank to his knees
Sink
Cause to sink;
The Japanese sank American ships in Pearl Harbor
Sink
Pass into a specified state or condition;
He sank into Nirvana
Sink
Go under,
The raft sank and its occupants drowned
Sink
Descend into or as if into some soft substance or place;
He sank into bed
She subsided into the chair
Sink
Appear to move downward;
The sun dipped below the horizon
The setting sun sank below the tree line
Sink
Fall heavily or suddenly; decline markedly;
The real estate market fell off
Sink
Fall or sink heavily;
He slumped onto the couch
My spirits sank
Sink
Embed deeply;
She sank her fingers into the soft sand
He buried his head in her lap
Common Curiosities
What types of materials are sinks made of?
Sinks are typically made of stainless steel, ceramic, or porcelain.
Can "drink" be used as a noun?
Yes, "drink" can also refer to a beverage.
What does it mean when something "sinks"?
It means to go downward below the surface of a liquid.
Are all drinks safe to drink?
Not all liquids are safe to drink, such as seawater or toxic chemicals.
What happens if a sink overflows?
An overflowing sink can lead to water damage and require immediate attention.
Can "sink" have a figurative meaning?
Yes, it can mean to decline or deteriorate.
What is the primary function of a kitchen sink?
The primary function is washing food and dishes.
What is a drink?
A drink is a liquid intended for human consumption.
Is drinking essential for health?
Yes, drinking fluids is vital for bodily functions and health.
How does sink installation vary?
It varies based on the type of sink and the setup of the area where it will be installed.
How do you maintain a sink?
Regular cleaning and checking the plumbing helps maintain a sink.
Can "drink" refer to alcoholic beverages only?
No, it can refer to any type of liquid beverage.
Why do objects sink in water?
Objects sink due to density higher than that of water.
How often should one drink water?
It is recommended to drink about eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
What is the difference between drinking and eating?
Drinking involves liquids, whereas eating involves solids.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
