From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsink in phrasal verbUNDERSTANDREALIZEif information, facts etc sink in, you gradually understand them or realize their full meaning He paused a moment for his words to sink in. The implications of Labour’s defeat were beginning to sink in. → sink→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
sink in• He paused to let this news sink in.• I've been revising all day but I don't think much of it has sunk in.• The news of the President's assassination had only just begun to sink in.• Winning this tournament means so much to me. It hasn't really sunk in yet. 