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

After Thursday’s plunge I was determined to write and let readers know.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026

The loss on the SOX Thursday was deeper than the biggest drop in 2000, the year the Dotcom bubble burst, an 11.7% plunge on April 14 of that year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

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

What his hand did was plunge through the screen.

From "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Consider the 50 biggest one-day plunges for the Nasdaq since 1971, which is when the index was created.

From MarketWatch ● 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

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

Public transportation has largely ground to a halt, and the repeated collapse of the national power grid plunges the entire island into darkness for days at a time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

I’m trying to see Olly in his darkened room when the Bundt leaps from the sill and plunges to the ground.

From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon

While writing this piece last Saturday I had to break off for an hour because my street was suddenly plunged into darkness.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

Seoul plunged almost nine percent at one point, with chip giant SK hynix off 10 percent while rival Samsung was eight percent down.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

As stocks plunged Thursday, some younger investors saw an opportunity to buy.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026

U.S. stocks plunged as disappointing chip earnings and postelection fears about data-center development caused a rout in AI companies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

But the erratic Arctic temperatures plunged again to more than – 50°F. Three of the crew members returned barely coherent; the other four were unable to move, stranded miles away from the ship.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Oil prices, meanwhile, were edging higher after plunging more than 8% Wednesday.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026

The losses follow the value of Google owner Alphabet plunging by more than $500bn on Thursday after it revealed its own AI summaries were affecting its core search advertising revenue.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

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

Despite the fact that we climb a few flights of stairs, I still feel like I am plunging into the earth.

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

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Related Words

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

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