plunge
Americanverb (used with object)
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to cast or thrust forcibly or suddenly into something, as a liquid, a penetrable substance, a place, etc.; immerse; submerge.
to plunge a dagger into one's heart.
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to bring suddenly or forcibly into some condition, situation, etc..
to plunge a country into war; to pull a switch and plunge a house into darkness.
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Horticulture. to place (a potted plant) up to its rim in soil or in certain other materials, as sand or moss.
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Surveying. to transit (the telescope of a transit or theodolite).
verb (used without object)
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to cast oneself, or fall as if cast, into water, a hole, etc.
- Synonyms:
- dive
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to rush or dash with headlong haste.
to plunge through a crowd.
- Synonyms:
- hasten
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to bet or speculate recklessly.
to plunge on the stock market.
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to throw oneself impetuously or abruptly into some condition, situation, matter, etc..
to plunge into debt.
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to descend abruptly or precipitously, as a cliff, road, etc.
- Synonyms:
- drop
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to pitch violently forward, as a horse, ship, etc.
noun
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act of plunging.
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a leap or dive, as into water.
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a headlong or impetuous rush or dash.
a plunge into danger.
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a sudden, violent pitching movement.
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a place for plunging or diving, as a swimming pool.
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Geology. pitch.
idioms
verb
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(usually foll by into) to thrust or throw (something, oneself, etc)
they plunged into the sea
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to throw or be thrown into a certain state or condition
the room was plunged into darkness
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(usually foll by into) to involve or become involved deeply (in)
he plunged himself into a course of Sanskrit
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(intr) to move or dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity
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(intr) to descend very suddenly or steeply
the ship plunged in heavy seas
a plunging neckline
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informal (intr) to speculate or gamble recklessly, for high stakes, etc
noun
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a leap or dive as into water
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informal a swim; dip
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a place where one can swim or dive, such as a swimming pool
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a headlong rush
a plunge for the exit
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a pitching or tossing motion
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informal
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to resolve to do something dangerous or irrevocable
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to get married
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Synonym Usage
See dip 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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plungesimple
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plungessimple
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have plungedperfect
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has plungedperfect
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am plungingprogressive
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are plungingprogressive
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is plungingprogressive
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have been plungingperfect progressive
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has been plungingperfect progressive
Past
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plungedsimple
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had plungedperfect
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was plungingprogressive
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were plungingprogressive
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had been plungingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of plunge
1325–75; Middle English < Middle French plung ( i ) er ≪ Vulgar Latin *plumbicāre to heave the lead. See plumb
Explanation
Plunge is a noun and a verb related to diving, falling, and sinking. A "polar bear plunge" is when people plunge into freezing cold water for charity or, inexplicably, for fun. As a noun, plunge means “a brief swim” or “a fall.” As a verb, plunge has a variety of definitions. Plunge can mean “to devote yourself fully," as you might plunge into a job by working day and night. Similarly, if you plunge into a good book, you don't let anything distract you from your reading. Plunge can also mean “fall abruptly.” Someone’s reputation might plunge after a scandal, or the stock market might plunge when investors react to bad news.
Vocabulary lists containing plunge
Unit 1: Telling Details
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The company saw its car sales in China plunge 30% in the second quarter, offsetting growth in all other regions, amid intense competition, cautious consumer sentiment and continuing model changes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
It investigates how the move could "threaten to plunge a prison system struggling with overcrowding into chaos", and says that some 6,000 prisoners had been set for release on a monthly schedule from early September.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
He took the plunge and headed to Hollywood in 1968.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
Selling a house in the current market is tough, as high mortgage rates make buyers hesitant to take the plunge on a home purchase.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026
The shivering makes me cough, everything makes me cough, and I spit out handfuls of green goo from my lungs, but then I hold my breath and plunge in my head again.
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
Capitol, which plunges us into the grim reality of the Civil War battlefield.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
But when it comes to resilience, the company plunges to 110th place—a byproduct of its dependence on both Taiwan and China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
One can see that implied volatility increases into a spike and then plunges, creating a “sawtooth” pattern.
From MarketWatch ● May 28, 2026
On the longevity conference circuit, attendees enjoy cold plunges amid talks of plasma replacement therapy and microdosing GLP-1s.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
It was an exciting game, full of unpredictable escapes and plunges.
From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai
Demand for Treasurys partially recovered from last week’s slump, sending yields lower, as oil prices plunged.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
President Trump opted against a major escalation of his military campaign against Iran, and U.S. oil futures plunged 7.5% to $82.61 a barrel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Prices then plunged toward $70 earlier this month, before jumping back to $100 at the highs this week.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
Its stock value had meanwhile plunged by as much as 15 percent Wednesday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
A willow branch whipped over the water, then plunged into it where the magistrate had disappeared.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Investor jitters over how long the artificial intelligence spending boom will last and concern over Chinese competition in chipmaking sent technology shares plunging Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Shares of Topsports International, Nike’s largest distributor in China, suffered a record drop, plunging as much as 28% in Hong Kong.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
I must have only taken about 10 steps when the sea titan breached, its spotted skin flashing in the sunlight briefly before plunging beneath the waves.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
The brown dwarf may have disrupted the missing planet's orbit and sent it plunging into TOI-5882.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 16, 2026
She ran a little ahead, plunging into the forest alone, because she realized that she had a bad feeling as well.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
