What does tanking mean?
Tanking describes a rapid and often dramatic decline, particularly in the value of shares, the price of a product, or the performance of a business. Expressions such as “the market is tanking” and “shares are tanking” convey a steep fall rather than a gradual loss of strength. The word can also have literal meanings connected with tanks: a driver may be “tanking the car” by filling it with fuel, while other uses involve placing something in a tank. The contrast between filling a tank and watching financial value drain away gives the word its memorable figurative force. Although common in financial reporting, the expression is generally informal and is particularly associated with contemporary American usage.
verb (present participle and gerund)Tanking means falling or declining sharply and rapidly, especially in reference to prices, shares, or business performance. It can also mean filling a vehicle’s fuel tank or placing something in a tank.
- Falling or declining sharply, especially in price, value, or performance.
- Filling a vehicle’s fuel tank.
- Placing something in a tank or causing it to enter a tank.
"The company’s shares began tanking after the announcement."
"Small technology stocks were tanking as investors sold their shares."
"We stopped at the station to tank the car before the long drive."
A tank can be filled with fuel while the market can be emptied of value by a sudden crash.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tanking come from?
“Tanking” is formed from “tank” with the present-participle ending -ing. Its figurative financial sense developed from the literal idea of a tank being emptied, while its other meanings retain connections with filling or using a tank.
Related word forms
How tanking is actually used
The financial sense is informal but firmly established, especially in US business and media language. Outside that context, “tanking” may refer literally to filling a tank or putting something into one.