plunge

American  

[pluhnj] / plʌndʒ /

verb (used with object)

• plunges,
  present (3rd person singular)
• plunged,
  past participle,  past
• plunging
  present participle

1. 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.

2. 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.

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

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

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verb (used without object)

• plunges,
  present (3rd person singular)
• plunged,
  past participle,  past
• plunging
  present participle

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

   Synonyms:

   dive

2. to rush or dash with headlong haste.

   to plunge through a crowd.

   Synonyms:

   hasten

3. to bet or speculate recklessly.

   to plunge on the stock market.

4. to throw oneself impetuously or abruptly into some condition, situation, matter, etc..

   to plunge into debt.

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

   Synonyms:

   drop

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

noun

• plunges
  plural

1. act of plunging.

2. a leap or dive, as into water.

3. a headlong or impetuous rush or dash.

   a plunge into danger.

4. a sudden, violent pitching movement.

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

6. Geology. pitch.

idioms

1. 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.

plunge British  

/ plʌndʒ /

verb

1. (usually foll by into) to thrust or throw (something, oneself, etc)

   they plunged into the sea

2. to throw or be thrown into a certain state or condition

   the room was plunged into darkness

3. (usually foll by into) to involve or become involved deeply (in)

   he plunged himself into a course of Sanskrit

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

5. (intr) to descend very suddenly or steeply

   the ship plunged in heavy seas

   a plunging neckline

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

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noun

1. a leap or dive as into water

2. informal a swim; dip

3. a place where one can swim or dive, such as a swimming pool

4. a headlong rush

   a plunge for the exit

5. a pitching or tossing motion

6. informal

   1. to resolve to do something dangerous or irrevocable

   2. to get married

plunge More Idioms  

1. see take the plunge.

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Synonym Usage

See dip ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• replunge
  verb
• unplunged
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• plunges
  plural

Participles

• plunging
  present
• plunged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• plunge
  simple
• plunges
  simple
• have plunged
  perfect
• has plunged
  perfect
• am plunging
  progressive
• are plunging
  progressive
• is plunging
  progressive
• have been plunging
  perfect progressive
• has been plunging
  perfect progressive

Past

• plunged
  simple
• had plunged
  perfect
• was plunging
  progressive
• were plunging
  progressive
• had been plunging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will plunge
  simple
• will have plunged
  perfect
• will be plunging
  progressive
• will have been plunging
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

plunge plunges plunged plunging

Looking inside the ETF’s autocallable portfolio, the maturity and coupon barriers may be breached when the reference stocks plunge by around 50% to 55%, according to Staudt.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

That came after Mater Dei junior quarterback Russell Sekona tied the score, 9-9, midway through the fourth quarter with a one-yard touchdown plunge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026

Hook says he wouldn't go to Turkey "because I have heard so many bad things", adding that he investigated thoroughly before taking the plunge in Tirana.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

His office argued in a fact sheet that when costly fires plunge utilities into bankruptcy, fire victims can end up competing with other creditors and that their compensation is at risk.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

I watched Fred as he saw Lester plunge into the quarry.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Daniel Kavanagh’s Oregon company builds and installs custom saunas and cold plunges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Eventually they do and Navratil plunges into a thicket of grass next to a corrugated metal wall, emerging with six tiny kittens clutched to her chest.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Once the results are announced, implied volatility typically plunges.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Kiki, however, lives in a world that sees magic as part of the natural order, which plunges her into an existential crisis when she loses hers.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 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

Millions in Cuba were left without power on Friday as the country was plunged into yet another major blackout.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Bloomberg reported Thursday that Saudi Arabia told members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries its production of crude oil in August plunged to its lowest level since 1990.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026

Shares of Casey’s General Stores plunged 14% after the pizza-selling convenience store giant reported same-store sales growth that fell slightly below Wall Street expectations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

The rial has plunged to record lows, reaching around 2.2 million to the US dollar in recent days, while year-on-year inflation hit 89 percent for the Iranian month ending August 22, sharply eroding purchasing power.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

She plunged in, dragging packs and sleeping-sack behind her.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

The lodging business took a hit when travel activity drooped during the pandemic, while soaring operating costs and plunging occupancy rates caused hundreds of senior housing facilities to close.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

ThredUp shares are down more than 60% over the same period, plunging after investors were disappointed with its revenue outlook announced last month.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

One of the oldest pieces of Wall Street wisdom is not to try catching a falling knife—a stock that’s plunging.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Births fell last year by nearly four percent, plunging the fertility rate to an 80-year low, national statistics show.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

The horses soared up to the very top of the sky and then, plunging headlong down, they set the world on fire.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Related Words

• descend
• dip
• drive
• drop
• go down
• hurtle
• jump
• nose-dive
• plummet
• sink
• throw
• tumble