plunge

[ pluhnj ]

/ plʌndʒ /

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See synonyms for: plunge / plunged / plunging on Thesaurus.com

Definition of plunge

verb (used with object), plunged, plung·ing.

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.

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.

Horticulture. to place (a potted plant) up to its rim in soil or in certain other materials, as sand or moss.

Surveying. to transit (the telescope of a transit or theodolite).

verb (used without object), plunged, plung·ing.

to cast oneself, or fall as if cast, into water, a hole, etc.

to rush or dash with headlong haste: to plunge through a crowd.

to bet or speculate recklessly: to plunge on the stock market.

to throw oneself impetuously or abruptly into some condition, situation, matter, etc.: to plunge into debt.

to descend abruptly or precipitously, as a cliff, road, etc.

to pitch violently forward, as a horse, ship, etc.

noun

act of plunging.

a leap or dive, as into water.

a headlong or impetuous rush or dash: a plunge into danger.

a sudden, violent pitching movement.

a place for plunging or diving, as a swimming pool.

Geology. pitch¹ (def. 45).

OTHER WORDS FOR plunge

5 dive.

6 hasten.

9 drop.

See synonyms for plunge on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about plunge

take the plunge, to enter with sudden decision upon an unfamiliar course of action, as after hesitation or deliberation: She took the plunge and invested her entire savings in the plan.

Origin of plunge

1325–75; Middle English <Middle French plung(i)er ≪ Vulgar Latin *plumbicāre to heave the lead. See plumb

synonym study for plunge

1. See dip¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM plunge

re·plunge, verb, re·plunged, re·plung·ing; nounun·plunged, adjective

Words nearby plunge

plumule, plumulose, plumy, plunder, plunderage, plunge, plunge basin, plunge bath, plunge pool, plunger, plunging fire

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use plunge in a sentence

We got our feet wet, literally, with Hike Maui and guide Gail Rice, who led us through gushing streambeds and ultimately to a plunge into a waterfall-fed pool.
A Maui vacation in three acts|Alex Pulaski|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
That’s why diamonds form after carbon takes a plunge inside Earth.
Diamond holds up at pressures more than five times those in Earth’s core|Emily Conover|January 27, 2021|Science News
The rapid plunge has triggered all kinds of warnings about how low it could go.
Bitcoin bombs lower, touching the dreaded $30,000 range|Bernhard Warner|January 22, 2021|Fortune
We already saw air pollution plunge in San Diego when stay-at-home orders were fresh and feared.
San Diego’s Climate Challenges Will Still Be Here in 2021 – and Beyond|MacKenzie Elmer|January 1, 2021|Voice of San Diego

Indeed, after a record-fast plunge into a bear market in March, stocks have managed to completely recover and are currently trading around all-time highs, up 14% for the year at Tuesday’s close.
‘Santa Claus’ rally could take stocks higher, even after an ‘unbelievable’ year|Anne Sraders|December 17, 2020|Fortune
Cocker, for his part, worked briefly as an apprentice gasfitter but decided to take the plunge into the world of commercial music.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker|Ted Gioia|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And nobody expected oil prices to plunge so quickly, either.
How Crimea Crashed the Russian Economy|Anna Nemtsova|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So, with good ideas in the air, we plunge into one of the knottier sections of the story.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The vote on Sunday could take Ukraine toward a modern functioning democracy or plunge it back into a cesspool of corruption.
Ukraine’s Wild and Wooly Elections|Anna Nemtsova|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Stewart took the plunge in response to Matt Lauer's televised Today Show challenge.
The Ice Bucket Challenge: Celebrities Promote ALS Awareness, Washboard Abs|Amy Zimmerman|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Terror drives you on; fate coerces you; you can't help yourself, and my delight is to make the plunge terrible.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
We met like hostile bulls, and wonder not that we should plunge at once upon each other's horns!
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
To elucidate this it is necessary to plunge into the jungle of pure economic theory.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
But the sailors plunge into the very fire itself; entering the houses, they strive to rescue the contents until the roofs fall in.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
At last the vessel gave a plunge and roll which seemed to many of those on board as though it must certainly be her last.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for plunge

plunge

/ (plʌndʒ) /

verb

(usually foll by into) to thrust or throw (something, oneself, etc)they plunged into the sea

to throw or be thrown into a certain state or conditionthe room was plunged into darkness

(usually foll by into) to involve or become involved deeply (in)he plunged himself into a course of Sanskrit

(intr) to move or dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity

(intr) to descend very suddenly or steeplythe ship plunged in heavy seas; a plunging neckline

(intr) informal to speculate or gamble recklessly, for high stakes, etc

noun

a leap or dive as into water

informal a swim; dip

mainly US a place where one can swim or dive, such as a swimming pool

a headlong rusha plunge for the exit

a pitching or tossing motion

take the plunge informal

to resolve to do something dangerous or irrevocable
to get married

Word Origin for plunge

C14: from Old French plongier, from Vulgar Latin plumbicāre (unattested) to sound with a plummet, from Latin plumbum lead

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with plunge

plunge

see take the plunge.

plunge

Definition of plunge

OTHER WORDS FOR plunge

Idioms about plunge

Origin of plunge

synonym study for plunge

OTHER WORDS FROM plunge

Words nearby plunge

Words related to plunge

How to use plunge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for plunge

Word Origin for plunge

Other Idioms and Phrases with plunge