Tank — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈtaŋk/

Meaning & Definition of Tank

Tank (noun)

  1. a usually large receptacle for holding, transporting, or storing liquids (such as water or fuel)
  2. an enclosed heavily armed and armored combat vehicle that moves on tracks
  3. tank top

Tank (verb)

  1. to make no effort to win, lose intentionally
  2. to place, store, or treat in a tank
  3. to lose intentionally, give up in competition

Tank (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in hole, cell

    similar: bull pen, cage, cell, hole, bastille, big house (slang), bridewell, brig, calaboose, can, clink (slang), cooler, coop, guardroom, hock, hold, hoosegow, jail, jailhouse, joint (slang), jug, lockup, nick (British slang), pen, penitentiary, pokey (slang), prison, quod (British slang), slam, slammer, stir (slang), stockade, tolbooth (Scottish), block, ward, glasshouse (British), guardhouse, hulk(s), concentration camp, gulag, labor camp, prison camp, stalag, work camp, dungeon, keep, oubliette, reformatory, reform school, training school
    opposite: outside

Tank (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be unsuccessful

    "her intended comeback movie tanked at the box office, and once again she was relegated to TV guest spots"

    similar: bomb, collapse, crater, fail, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, founder, miss, strike out, wash out, come a cropper, come to grief, come up empty, die on the vine, fall flat, fall on one's face, fall short, lay an egg
    related: flounder, struggle, decline, sink, skid, slip, slump, wane, crash, crumble, miscarry, misfire, go under, implode, self-destruct
    opposite: click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out
    near: cook, flourish, prosper, thrive, prevail, triumph, win

Related Entry: Think tank (noun)

Think tank is a different word from Tank. The synonyms below are for think tank, not for tank.

  1. an organization that consists of a group of people who think of new ideas on a particular subject or who give advice about what should be done

    similar: think factory, establishment, foundation, institute, body, collective, group, corporation, enterprise, charity, philanthropy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Tank

The most common words with a similar meaning to Tank:

Slang: big house, clink, joint, pokey, stir
British slang: nick, quod
Scottish: tolbooth
British: glasshouse
bull pen, cage, cell, hole, bastille, bridewell, brig, calaboose, can, cooler, coop, guardroom, hock, hold, hoosegow, jail, jailhouse, jug, lockup, pen, penitentiary, prison, slam, slammer, stockade, block, ward, guardhouse, hulk(s), concentration camp, gulag, labor camp, prison camp, stalag, work camp, dungeon, keep, oubliette, reformatory, reform school

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Tank

Words with the opposite meaning of Tank:

outside, click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out

Related Words for Tank

flounder, struggle, decline, sink, skid, slip, slump, wane, crash, crumble, miscarry, misfire, go under, implode, self-destruct

Near Antonyms of Tank

cook, flourish, prosper, thrive, prevail, triumph, win

Word Forms of Tank

Inflections: tanked, tanking, tanks

Derived words: tankful (noun), tanklike (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Tank

Portuguese tanque, alteration of estanque, from estancar to stanch, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *stanticare stanch

First known use: 1609

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Tank

Words & Phrases Containing Tank

tank car, tank destroyer, tank suit, tank top, tank town, tank up, anti-tank, drop tank

Frequently Asked Questions about Tank

What does "Tank" mean?

"Tank" means a usually large receptacle for holding, transporting, or storing liquids (such as water or fuel). As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a usually large receptacle for holding, transporting, or storing liquids (such as water or fuel). It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Tank"?

Other words for "Tank" include bull pen, cage, cell, hole, bastille, big house, bridewell and brig. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Tank" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Tank"?

There are 85 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Tank". Common alternatives include bull pen, cage, cell, hole, bastille, big house, bridewell, brig, calaboose and can.

What is a slang word for "Tank"?

Slang words for "Tank" include big house, clink, joint, pokey, stir and nick.

What is the opposite of "Tank"?

Antonyms of "Tank" include outside, click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out and succeed. Near antonyms include cook, flourish, prosper and thrive.

How do you use "Tank" in a sentence?

Examples of "Tank" in a sentence: "her intended comeback movie tanked at the box office, and once again she was relegated to TV guest spots".

Is "Tank" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Tank" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Tank" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Tank" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.