dunkirk Meaning & Definition
ˈdən-ˌkərk
What Does Dunkirk Mean?
Dunkirk is a noun that means a retreat to avoid total defeat. It can also mean a crisis situation that requires a desperate last effort to forestall certain failure. As a geographical name, it means city and port on the Strait of Dover, northern France.
Dunkirk at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, geographical name |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈdən-ˌkərk/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | boiling point, breaking point and clutch |
| First known use | 1941 |
Dunkirk Definition (Noun)
- a retreat to avoid total defeat
- a crisis situation that requires a desperate last effort to forestall certain failure
… a Dunkirk for U.S. foreign policy.
Dunkirk as a Geographical Name
- city and port on the Strait of Dover, northern France
Synonyms of Dunkirk
boiling pointbreaking pointclutchconjuncturecrisiscrossroad(s)crunchcrunch timeemergencyexigencyextremityflash pointheadjuncturetinderboxzero hour
Dunkirk synonyms and antonyms →Dunkirk in a Sentence
… a Dunkirk for U.S. foreign policy.
with the company facing a financial Dunkirk, it was hoped that the new CEO could turn things around—and fast
Word Forms & Grammar
Dunkirk
Dunkirks
Dunkerque
dunkirk
dunkirks
Origin of Dunkirk
Dunkirk or Dunkerque, France, scene of the evacuation of Allied forces in 1940
First Known Use
1941
How Do You Say Dunkirk?
The standard pronunciation of dunkirk is /ˈdən-ˌkərk/, spoken in 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (dən).