clunked

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitive

   Made a dull, heavy sound, like two solid objects hitting each other.

   Grammar: No object; often used with adverbs like 'down' or 'into': The lid clunked shut.

   Patterns

   • clunk shut
   • clunk down
   • clunk into something

   The old gate clunked shut behind us.

   The heavy box clunked as it hit the floor.

   I heard the latch clunk into place.

2. 2verbintransitive

   Moved heavily and awkwardly, making a dull sound with each step.

   Grammar: No object; often followed by an adverb or preposition: clunked across the room.

   Patterns

   • clunk across
   • clunk along
   • clunk up/down

   He clunked across the wooden floor in his heavy boots.

   The robot clunked down the hallway.

   She clunked up the stairs with the suitcase.

Word forms

Common combinations

clunk shut

The door clunked shut.

clunk into place

The parts clunked into place.

clunk down

The book clunked down onto the desk.

Synonyms and how they differ

thud

Thud suggests a softer, duller sound, like a heavy object hitting something; clunk is more metallic or hollow.

clank

Clank is a sharper, ringing sound, like metal chains; clunk is lower and less resonant.

Word family

clunk noun

A dull, heavy sound.

clunky adjective

Heavy, awkward, or outdated in style.

Commonly confused: clunked or clank? clunked or cluck?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “clunked”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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