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

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Etymology

Origin of plunge

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

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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

Even a more than seven percent plunge in oil prices Monday was unable to provide support.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

The Santa Clara-based chipmaker saw its stock plunge more than 30% Friday to roughly $62 per share after it reported a weaker fourth-quarter outlook and a slowdown in personal computer sales.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Reporting that Alphabet's share value dropped 15 per cent on Thursday, the paper says "the plunge reverberated across markets, as the tech-heavy Nasdaq slumped 1.5 per cent".

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

The plunge in share prices means Goldman Sachs now values the market at just four times the next 12 months of earnings.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

It should be noted that Penelope’s fernibuster did not plunge all her audience into a stupor.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Since only 25% of all days since 1971 were in one of those bear markets, this means that big one-day plunges are associated with three-times-higher odds of occurring during a primary downtrend.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

The post-earnings plunges are reinforcing fears that the best quarters, particularly for AI-linked companies, are in the rear-view mirror.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Celestica surges after the AI boom boosts the electronic maker’s results, while Whirlpool plunges following a full-year guidance cut.

From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026

As Herzog moves the sisters between reality and film’s dreamy latter half, he plunges into the fizzy static that comprises their cosmic connection, examining their solitude as only he can.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

Manuel de Moya plunges his hands in his pockets and paces the room.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Rheinmetall shares in Frankfurt plunged more than 16% on Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

Although the star has fascinated astronomers for generations, it attracted worldwide attention in late 2019 and early 2020 when its brightness unexpectedly plunged to its lowest recorded level in more than 100 years.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026

Lumentum shares plunged nearly 19% Monday, while Marvell’s stock fell almost 13%.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026

Shares in Alstom ALO -26.72%decrease; red down pointing triangle plunged after the French train maker cut guidance due to technical and production issues with some products, including Coradia Max high-capacity regional trains.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

But suddenly he just stopped his juggling, plunged his hand into his pocket, and held up the compass.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Homicides in Los Angeles still are falling, plunging to levels not seen since the 1960s and continuing a dramatic turnaround from the pandemic crime surge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

The president, who turns 81 next week, will make his first campaign visit to Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach on Saturday before plunging into the crowds on Sao Paulo's Avenida Paulista.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026

She appeared as a featured vocalist on a handful of dance tracks before plunging into a solo career.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

This is why there are elevated odds of the market either soaring in coming months or plunging.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

She shrugged, ripping off some bread and plunging it into her bowl.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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Related Words

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• plummet
• sink
• throw
• tumble

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