Sink vs. Soak — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 7, 2024
"Sinking" refers to the process of an object descending below the surface of liquid due to gravity, emphasizing displacement. "Soaking," involves immersing an object in a liquid until it absorbs the liquid or is thoroughly wetted, focusing on saturation.
Difference Between Sink and Soak
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
When an object sinks, it moves downward in a liquid until it rests at the bottom, a phenomenon driven by the object's density relative to the liquid's density. This action, often observed in water, is a physical process resulting from gravitational forces and density differences. On the other hand, soaking is a process where an object is left in a liquid for a period, allowing the liquid to permeate or fully saturate it. Soaking is common in various contexts, from cleaning to cooking, where the goal is for the liquid to be absorbed or to affect the soaked item's properties.
Sinking can be instantaneous or gradual, depending on the object's composition and the medium. It is a critical concept in physics, particularly when studying buoyancy and density. Conversely, soaking is more about the interaction between the liquid and the object over time, highlighting how substances can absorb liquids or be affected by them. This difference underlines the contrasting nature of immediate displacement versus gradual absorption or saturation.
The concept of sinking is often associated with negative outcomes, such as ships sinking in water due to breaches in their hulls, leading to disasters. Soaking, however, tends to have more neutral or positive connotations, such as soaking beans before cooking to reduce cooking time and enhance digestibility. These contrasting implications reflect the diverse applications and perceptions of each process in daily life and specific fields.
In practical applications, sinking is a critical consideration in designing vessels and structures intended to float or remain submerged at controlled levels, like submarines. Soaking, on the other hand, plays a vital role in processes like marinating food, where the goal is to infuse flavors, or in laundering, where the objective is to clean.
Both sinking and soaking are influenced by the properties of the involved substances (e.g., density, porosity) and the conditions under which they occur (e.g., temperature, time). However, the primary distinction lies in the outcomes and purposes of each process: one is about an object moving through a medium due to physical forces, while the other is about allowing a liquid to penetrate or affect an object through extended exposure.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Process
Descending due to gravity
Immersing for absorption
Focus
Displacement
Saturation
Physical Principle
Density and buoyancy
Absorption and permeation
Typical Context
Physics, marine safety
Cooking, cleaning
Outcome
Object rests at the bottom
Object becomes saturated or wetted
Compare with Definitions
Sink
Result of density differences.
Icebergs float but rocks sink in water.
Soak
Immersion for absorption.
Soak the beans overnight before cooking.
Sink
Overcome by gravity.
Objects denser than water sink when placed in it.
Soak
Process of becoming saturated.
Let the stained shirt soak in the detergent solution.
Sink
Critical in marine design.
Submarines are designed to sink and float controlledly.
Soak
Enhances qualities or cleans.
Soaking fruits in water removes dirt and pesticides.
Sink
Descend below a liquid's surface.
The heavy stone quickly sank to the bottom of the lake.
Soak
Involves extended exposure.
Soak the wooden planks before bending them for construction.
Sink
Associated with displacement.
A ship might sink if its hull is breached.
Soak
Vital in cooking and cleaning.
Soak the rice to reduce cooking time.
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.
Soak
To immerse in liquid for a period of time
Soak the beans in water before cooking.
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
Soak
To make thoroughly wet or saturated
I soaked the flowers with the hose. We got soaked by the rain.
Sink
Descend from a higher to a lower position; drop downwards
You can relax on the veranda as the sun sinks low
Soak
To absorb (liquid, for example) through pores or interstices
Use the bread to soak up the gravy.
Sink
Gradually decrease or decline in value, amount, quality, or intensity
Their output sank to a third of the pre-war figure
Soak
To be exposed to
Went to the beach to soak up the sun.
Sink
Insert beneath a surface
Rails fixed in place with screws sunk below the surface of the wood
Soak
(Informal) To experience or take in mentally, especially eagerly and easily
Soaked up the music scene.
Sink
Rapidly consume (an alcoholic drink)
English players sinking a few post-match lagers
Soak
To remove (a stain, for example) by continued immersion
Soaked out the grease spots.
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
Soak
To drink (alcoholic liquor), especially to excess.
Sink
A pool or marsh in which a river's water disappears by evaporation or percolation.
Soak
To make (a person) drunk.
Sink
Short for sinkhole
Soak
(Slang) To charge (a person) an inordinate amount for something
People were getting soaked during the gas shortage.
Sink
A place of vice or corruption
A sink of unnatural vice, pride, and luxury
Soak
To be immersed in liquid
The beans are soaking.
Sink
To go below the surface of water or another liquid
We watched the leaky inner tube slowly sink.
Soak
To seep into or permeate something
Water soaked into the soil.
Sink
To descend to the bottom of a body of water or other liquid
Found the wreck where it had sunk.
Soak
To be taken in mentally
The speaker paused to let her words soak in.
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.
Soak
(Slang) To drink to excess.
Sink
To subside or settle gradually
Cracks developed as the building sank.
Soak
The act or process of soaking
Had a long soak in the bath.
Sink
To appear to move downward, as the sun or moon in setting.
Soak
Liquid in which something may be soaked.
Sink
To slope downward; incline
The road sinks as it approaches the stream.
Soak
(Slang) A drunkard.
Sink
To fall or lower oneself slowly, as from weakness or fatigue
The exhausted runner sank to the ground.
Soak
(intransitive) To be saturated with liquid by being immersed in it.
I'm going to soak in the bath for a couple of hours.
Sink
To feel great disappointment or discouragement
Her heart sank within her.
Soak
(transitive) To immerse in liquid to the point of saturation or thorough permeation.
Soak the beans overnight before cooking.
Sink
To pass into something; penetrate
The claws sank into the flesh of the prey.
Soak
(intransitive) To penetrate or permeate by saturation.
The water soaked into my shoes and gave me wet feet.
Sink
To steep or soak
The wine has sunk into my shirt.
Soak
(transitive) To allow (especially a liquid) to be absorbed; to take in, receive. (usually + up)
A sponge soaks up water; the skin soaks in moisture.
I soaked up all the knowledge I could at university.
Sink
To pass into a specified condition
She sank into a deep sleep.
Soak
To take money from.
Sink
To deteriorate in quality or condition
The patient is sinking fast. The family sank into a state of disgrace.
Soak
To drink intemperately or gluttonously.
Sink
To diminish, as in value
Gold prices are sinking.
Soak
To heat (a metal) before shaping it.
Sink
To become weaker, quieter, or less forceful
His voice sank to a whisper.
Soak
To hold a kiln at a particular temperature for a given period of time.
We should soak the kiln at cone 9 for half an hour.
Sink
To make an impression; become felt or understood
The meaning finally sank in.
Soak
To absorb; to drain.
Sink
To cause to descend beneath the surface or to the bottom of a liquid
Sink a ship.
Soak
(transitive) To hit or strike.
Sink
To cause to penetrate deeply
He sank his sword into the dragon's belly.
Soak
An immersion in water etc.
After the strenuous climb, I had a nice long soak in a bath.
Sink
To force into the ground
Sink a piling.
Soak
A drunkard.
Sink
To dig or drill (a mine or well) in the earth.
Soak
(slang) A carouse; a drinking session.
Sink
To cause to drop or lower
Sank the bucket into the well.
Soak
(Australia) A low-lying depression that fills with water after rain.
Sink
(Sports) To propel (a ball or shot) into a hole, basket, or pocket.
Soak
To cause or suffer to lie in a fluid till the substance has imbibed what it can contain; to macerate in water or other liquid; to steep, as for the purpose of softening or freshening; as, to soak cloth; to soak bread; to soak salt meat, salt fish, or the like.
Sink
To cause to be engrossed
"Frank sank himself in another book" (Patricia Highsmith).
Soak
To draw in by the pores, or through small passages; as, a sponge soaks up water; the skin soaks in moisture.
Sink
To make weaker, quieter, or less forceful
She sank her voice when the manager walked by.
Soak
To make (its way) by entering pores or interstices; - often with through.
The rivulet beneath soaked its way obscurely through wreaths of snow.
Sink
To reduce in quantity or worth
The bad news will sink markets around the world.
Soak
Fig.: To absorb; to drain.
Sink
To debase the nature of; degrade
The scandal has sunk him in the eyes of many.
Soak
To lie steeping in water or other liquid; to become sturated; as, let the cloth lie and soak.
Sink
To bring to a low or ruined state; defeat or destroy
Loss of advertising sank the newspaper.
Soak
To enter (into something) by pores or interstices; as, water soaks into the earth or other porous matter.
Sink
To suppress or hide
He sank his arrogance and apologized.
Soak
To drink intemperately or gluttonously.
Sink
(Informal) To defeat, as in a game.
Soak
The process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid);
A good soak put life back in the wagon
Sink
To invest or spend, often without getting a return or adequate value
I've sunk a lot of money into that car.
Soak
Washing something by allowing it to soak
Sink
To pay off (a debt).
Soak
Submerge in a liquid;
I soaked in the hot tub for an hour
Sink
A water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe and generally a piped supply of water.
Soak
Rip off; ask an unreasonable price
Sink
A cesspool.
Soak
Cover with liquid; pour liquid onto;
Souse water on his hot face
Sink
A sinkhole.
Soak
Leave as a guarantee in return for money;
Pawn your grandfather's gold watch
Sink
A natural or artificial means of absorbing or removing a substance or a form of energy from a system.
Soak
Beat severely; slang
Sink
A place regarded as wicked and corrupt
That city is a sink of corruption.
Soak
Make drunk (with alcoholic drinks)
Sink
To move or be moved into something.
Soak
Become drunk or drink excessively
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.
Soak
Fill, soak, or imbue totally;
Saturate the bandage with disinfectant
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.
Soak
Heat a metal prior to working it
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
Why do some objects sink faster than others?
The speed at which an object sinks depends on its density, shape, and the viscosity of the liquid.
What does it mean for an object to sink?
Sinking means an object moves downward in a liquid until it reaches the bottom, often due to being denser than the liquid.
What is soaking, and why is it done?
Soaking involves immersing an object in a liquid so the liquid can be absorbed or thoroughly wet the object, often for cleaning or preparing food.
Can all objects sink?
Only objects denser than the liquid they are in will sink; others may float or remain suspended.
How do ships designed to sink (like submarines) control their buoyancy?
Submarines adjust their buoyancy by controlling the amount of water in their ballast tanks, allowing them to sink or float as needed.
What factors influence how well something soaks?
Factors include the liquid's temperature, the soaking time, and the object's properties, such as porosity.
Is soaking beneficial for all types of food?
While beneficial for many types, like legumes and certain grains, not all foods require soaking before use.
Can soaking change the properties of an object?
Yes, soaking can change an object's texture, flavor, or cleanliness, depending on the context and substances involved.
How long should an item be soaked?
Soaking times vary based on the object and the intended result, from minutes for cleaning to hours for food preparation.
What's the difference in the outcome of sinking vs. soaking?
Sinking results in an object resting at the bottom of a liquid due to gravity, while soaking leads to an object becoming saturated with the liquid.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
