plunge

[ pluhnj ]

/ plʌndʒ /

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

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

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

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

How to use plunge in a sentence

After taking a plunge in the spring, consumer confidence has been ticking steadily upward since July, according to figures from Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
‘People are gonna shop’: Despite second coronavirus wave, consumer confidence ticks up and brakes on ad spend not slammed yet|Max Willens|November 19, 2020|Digiday
These creatures hold the record for deepest plunge by a marine mammal.
A whale’s nearly four-hour-long dive sets a new record|Erin Garcia de Jesus|November 4, 2020|Science News For Students
Ultimately, advertisers who took the plunge on Quibi fell victim to a bad case of “marketing myopia”, Crutchfield said.
‘Marketing myopia’: Quibi’s flameout is a cautionary tale for advertisers keen to latch on to the next big thing in media|Lara O'Reilly|October 30, 2020|Digiday
Banks and aid agencies have been warning of a pandemic-related plunge in the amount of money sent by migrants to family back home who rely on the income.
Immigrants are still sending lots of money home despite coronavirus job losses—for now|Erwin R. Tiongson|October 21, 2020|Quartz

Tempted, I reached out to a few people who’d taken that approach, and they seemed to know what they were talking about, so we decided to take the plunge.
Inside My Custom Toyota Land Cruiser Build|Wes Siler|October 15, 2020|Outside Online
In Tuesday trading alone, it plunged by more than 20 percent against the U.S. dollar.
Putin Can’t Bully or Bomb a Recession|Daniel Gross|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile, marriage rates among high-school graduates have declined, and those among high-school dropouts have plunged.
The Real Enemy of Marital Bliss Are Those Most Opposed to Marriage Equality|Jay Michaelson|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the world from Ferguson to Syria plunged into chaos this summer, public opinion polls rolled in every week.
The Polls Are In: ISIS Is Outside Your Window|Jack Holmes|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For Tolkien, the tale into which 1914 had plunged him never ended.
Why World War I Is at the Heart of ‘Lord of the Rings’|John Garth|July 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Caracas was plunged into darkness in the middle of a televised speech by President Nicolas Maduro.
Who Will Maduro Blame for Venezuela’s Blackout This Time?|Daniel Lansberg-Rodríguez|June 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He remembered something—the cherished pose of being a man plunged fathoms-deep in business.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
But a lawyer who needed the wherewithal finally condescended to risk the task, and into it he plunged.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
The two men plunged into discussion, and Isabel, her eyes expressing a polite interest, studied the face of her cousin.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
But before he had been in San Pasquale an hour, he was plunged into a perplexity and disappointment deeper than he had yet felt.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Aristide in a hideous red mask and with a bag of confetti under his arm, plunged with enthusiasm into the revelry.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke

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

OTHER WORDS FOR plunge

Idioms about plunge

Origin of plunge

synonym study for plunge

OTHER WORDS FROM 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