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

The port city rode the age of empire only to plunge into crisis in the 1980s and ’90s from shifts in global trade, deindustrialization and Margaret Thatcher’s crackdown on unions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

When Neko Health offered to move me up the waiting list for a pre-launch scan, I took the $499 plunge.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

Just 56 seconds after taking off from RAF Coningsby, witnesses saw the plane turn and plunge to the ground.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

Though low temperatures will plunge them into dormancy, they produce a type of antifreeze that lets them survive harsh winters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

Kendra and her escorts hovered above the treetops, watching the others plunge toward the Forgotten Chapel.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

While price moves can be good for banks when they lead to more trades, sharp and sudden plunges in the price of bonds can hit their trading inventories, and also cause clients to step back.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Implied volatility increases as the earnings date approaches, then plunges after the earnings are announced.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

Millions of Europeans will contemplate the sky in awe on Wednesday as a rare total solar eclipse crosses part of the continent and plunges a swathe of Spain into eerie daytime darkness.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

“PRP, stem cells, cold plunges, GLP-1s,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

My heart shoots into my throat, my stomach plunges, and then, with a jerk that rattles my skull, I’m not falling anymore.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

The possible departure of UBS has plunged Switzerland into its latest existential crisis over how much it wants finance to define its economic identity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

And in Tokyo the Nikkei 225 shed more than five percent as Kioxia also dived more than 11 percent and Advantest plunged 14.5 percent.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Between 1997 and 2001, the price of bandwidth on fiber between London and New York plunged 96% as more fiber strands were laid and new technology expanded the capacity of each fiber.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

The coronavirus crisis plunged global life expectancy down to 71.5 years in 2021.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Mama plunged her hands back into the bowl alongside Ella's and continued to mix.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Shares of CoreWeave also got hit, plunging 15.5% on Wednesday.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

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

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Pilots have compared landing on the short runway, with either side plunging straight down off the side of a vertical cliff, to landing on an aircraft carrier.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Parton died last month at the age of 80, plunging her fans into mourning for a singer-songwriter, philanthropist and businesswoman whom many saw as a unifying figure in a divided America.

From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026

With the rushlight he cast around, plunging his hand into the stinking mounds.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

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Related Words

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

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