From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsunkensunk‧en /ˈsʌŋkən/ adjective 1 [only before noun]UNDER/BELOW having fallen to the bottom of the sea, a lake, or a river the wrecks of sunken ships sunken treasure2 → sunken cheeks/eyes etc3 [only before noun]UNDER/BELOW built or placed at a lower level than the surrounding floor or ground Steps led down to a sunken garden. a sunken bath
Examples from the Corpus
sunken• His eyes were dark and sunken.• The three arc-lamps had come to rest athwart the sunken bomber, sharply illuminating the fuselage and the two wings.• The church had to be located out of sight in a sunken cul-de-sac west of the village street.• Black sunken eyes like dried figs.• The inspector looked at his sunken head with compassion.• In one corner there is a sunken jacuzzi with a young person in it, moving sinuously in the bubbling waters.• a sunken living room• Lastly it is worth noting any usual features like sunken logs, projecting tree roots and big boulders.• After Charlotte's death in 1943, the villagers all noticed how extraordinarily frail and sunken Shaw looked.• sunken shipsOrigin sunken (1300-1400) From an old past participle of sink 