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

But they will be hurt if the company uses the U.S. shares as a piggy bank, and hurt even more if the premium falls because chip stocks in both Korea and the U.S. plunge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

It investigates how the move could "threaten to plunge a prison system struggling with overcrowding into chaos", and says that some 6,000 prisoners had been set for release on a monthly schedule from early September.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

He took the plunge and headed to Hollywood in 1968.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026

Selling a house in the current market is tough, as high mortgage rates make buyers hesitant to take the plunge on a home purchase.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026

In other words, for a few golden days, you remember what it feels like to be normal, before you plunge headlong into the bottomless pit.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

He's replaced alcohol with cold water plunges and hot yoga...

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

Not a day has gone by in this Cup without a decision that plunges a nation into rage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

Capitol, which plunges us into the grim reality of the Civil War battlefield.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Concentrix stock plunges after missing earnings and issuing poor guidance.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

Woo backflips into the water with irritating grace, still holding the dashiki as he plunges downward.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Demand for Treasurys partially recovered from last week’s slump, sending yields lower, as oil prices plunged.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

U.S.-traded oil futures plunged $6.70, or 7.5%, to $82.61 a barrel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Prices then plunged toward $70 earlier this month, before jumping back to $100 at the highs this week.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Its stock value had meanwhile plunged by as much as 15 percent Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Anya licked her lips and clenched her fists, and as the red of the setting sun lit the forest, Anya plunged into it.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Investor jitters over how long the artificial intelligence spending boom will last and concern over Chinese competition in chipmaking sent technology shares plunging Tuesday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

South Korea’s Kospi led declines across the region, heading for its largest one-day drop since plunging 12% on March 4, according to FactSet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

I must have only taken about 10 steps when the sea titan breached, its spotted skin flashing in the sunlight briefly before plunging beneath the waves.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

After plunging more than 30% since the start of the year, Morgan Stanley has cut Adobe’s stock rating, warning of three “concurrent transitions.”

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

I ducked; it missed me, but whammed Maria on the head and sent her plunging headlong into the mud.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Related Words

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