Dunkirk

noun

Dun·​kirk ˈdən-ˌkərk How to pronounce Dunkirk (audio)
ˌdən-ˈkərk
Synonyms of Dunkirknext
1
: a retreat to avoid total defeat
2
: a crisis situation that requires a desperate last effort to forestall certain failure
a Dunkirk for U.S. foreign policy—Time

Synonyms

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Examples of Dunkirk in a Sentence

with the company facing a financial Dunkirk, it was hoped that the new CEO could turn things around—and fast

Word History

Etymology

Dunkirk or Dunkerque, France, scene of the evacuation of Allied forces in 1940

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Dunkirk was in 1941

Dictionary Entries Near Dunkirk

Dunkerque

Dunkirk

Dunkirker

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Dunkirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Dunkirk. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Dunkirk

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