Sunken describes something that has dropped below the surface or settled lower than its surroundings. A sunken ship rests on the ocean floor, perhaps centuries after it went down in a storm. Treasure hunters search for sunken vessels, hoping to find gold coins or historical artifacts.

The word also describes features that appear hollowed out or fallen inward. Someone who hasn't slept well might have sunken eyes, where the area around their eyes looks deeper and darker than usual. An old couch might have a sunken cushion where people have sat for years, creating a permanent dip in the fabric.

In landscaping, a sunken garden sits below ground level, creating a sheltered, intimate space surrounded by walls of earth or stone. Ancient Romans built sunken baths, and modern architects sometimes design sunken living rooms that step down from the rest of the house.

The word carries a sense of something that has fallen from where it once was. A sunken treasure chest didn't start on the seafloor; it sank there. This quality can make sunken feel slightly melancholy, as if something has been lost or diminished.