Sinker for use in a knitting machine, having the following features: • a shaft which extends predominantly in a sinker longitudinal direction (L), • wherein, on its front end in its sinker longitudinal direction (L), the shaft has at least one loop-formation means which, during knitting operation, is in contact with the yarn and which is involved in the loop formation, • wherein the at least one loop-formation means is a hold-down edge for holding down the knitted fabric that has just been finished, • wherein the shaft has at least one base slide surface , • wherein said base slide surface extends in the sinker longitudinal direction (L) and the sinker width direction (B), extending transversely to the sinker longitudinal direction (L), of the shaft and downwardly delimits the extent of the shaft in its sinker vertical direction (H), extending transversely to the sinker longitudinal direction (L) and sinker width direction (B), and is designed in such a way that, during knitting operation, the sinker can slide on it, • and wherein, during knitting operation, when loops are held down, loop-formation forces act at the hold-down edge of the sinker , said loop-formation forces acting upwards in the sinker vertical direction (H), characterized by • a first sub-element of an action pair for exerting a force acting in the sinker vertical direction (H) of the sinker , wherein the action pair preferably comprises at least one spring element , • and wherein, by way of the exertable force of the action pair, the sinker can be preloaded in the sinker vertical direction (H) in a knitting apparatus in order to compensate for the loop-formation forces. • a shaft which extends predominantly in a sinker longitudinal direction (L), • wherein, on its front end in its sinker longitudinal direction (L), the shaft has at least one loop-formation means which, during knitting operation, is in contact with the yarn and which is involved in the loop formation, • wherein the at least one loop-formation means is a hold-down edge for holding down the knitted fabric that has just been finished, • wherein the shaft has at least one base slide surface , • wherein said base slide surface extends in the sinker longitudinal direction (L) and the sinker width direction (B), extending transversely to the sinker longitudinal direction (L), of the shaft and downwardly delimits the extent of the shaft in its sinker vertical direction (H), extending transversely to the sinker longitudinal direction (L) and sinker width direction (B), and is designed in such a way that, during knitting operation, the sinker can slide on it, • and wherein, during knitting operation, when loops are held down, loop-formation forces act at the hold-down edge of the sinker , said loop-formation forces acting upwards in the sinker vertical direction (H), • a first sub-element of an action pair for exerting a force acting in the sinker vertical direction (H) of the sinker , wherein the action pair preferably comprises at least one spring element , • and wherein, by way of the exertable force of the action pair, the sinker can be preloaded in the sinker vertical direction (H) in a knitting apparatus in order to compensate for the loop-formation forces. <EOS>