What does "sinkhole" mean?
A hole formed in soluble rock by the action of water, serving to conduct surface water to an underground passage.
Sinkhole
/ˈsɪŋkˌhoʊl/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A hole formed in soluble rock by the action of water, serving to conduct surface water to an underground passage.
- Grammar: sinkhole is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: basin, concavity, decoy server, dip.
- Useful contrasts: high ground, production server, ridge.
- Usage evidence: A sinkhole has appeared in the middle of the highway.
How to use "sinkhole"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sinkhole" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "sinkhole" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "sinkhole" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sinkhole" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "sinkhole" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "basin" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "sinkhole", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A hole formed in soluble rock by the action of water, serving to conduct surface water to an underground passage.
"A sinkhole suddenly opened up beneath the track of a heavy freight route in the eastern United States. Golfers playing the 13th hole at Hartford, Connecticut, had a new obstacle to tackle: a section of track suspended in mid-air after heavy rainfall in the aftermath of Storm Ida."
- 2 a depression in the ground communicating with a subterranean passage (especially in limestone) and formed by solution or by collapse of a cavern roof wordnet
- 3 A depressed area in which waste or drainage collects.
- 4 A hole in the playfield that rewards the player when the ball is guided into it.
"Pro Pinball is as authentic as pinball has ever been on the PC. It's all here, from the ramps, bumpers and sinkholes to the satisfying "clack" when you make the high-score list."
- 5 A domain name server that has been configured to hand out non-routeable addresses for all domains, so that every computer that uses it will fail to get access to the real website. Internet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 An attack which redirects requests, whether network or memory accesses, to a new location defined by the attacker.
Verb
- 1 To configure as a sinkhole (domain name server that gives non-routeable addresses). Internet, transitive
Antonyms
Example
"A sinkhole has appeared in the middle of the highway."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sinkhole"?
Common synonyms include: basin, concavity, decoy server, dip, doline, hollow.
How do you use "sinkhole" in a sentence?
A sinkhole has appeared in the middle of the highway.
How do you pronounce "sinkhole"?
Pronounced /ˈsɪŋkˌhoʊl/.
Etymology
From Middle English sinkehole, sinkeholl, equivalent to sink + hole.