nosedive

noun

nose·​dive ˈnōz-ˌdīv How to pronounce nosedive (audio)
1
: a downward nose-first plunge of a flying object (such as an airplane)
2
: a sudden extreme drop
stock prices took a nosedive
nose-dive intransitive verb

Examples of nosedive in a Sentence

The plane went into a nosedive. The stock market took a nosedive.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One big hurdle will be both consumer and business confidence, both of which have taken a nosedive recently. Jennifer Morris, Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2025 Friday's losses come on the heels of Thursday's nosedive after Trump announced late Wednesday sweeping 10% tariffs on all countries, effective April 5, and even higher reciprocal tariffs on a list of other countries. Medora Lee, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025 The moves were met with consecutive days' worth of a stock market nosedive coupled with new fears of a recession. Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025 Consumer confidence has taken a nosedive in 2025 as Americans grow more concerned that inflation could spike again, and tariffs will squeeze their wallets. Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nosedive

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nosedive was in 1912

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nosedive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nosedive. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

nosedive

1 of 2 noun
nose·​dive ˈnōz-ˌdīv How to pronounce nosedive (audio)
1
: a downward nose-first plunge (as of an airplane)
2
: a sudden extreme drop (as in prices)

nose-dive

2 of 2 verb
nose-dived; nose-diving
: to plunge suddenly or sharply

More from Merriam-Webster on nosedive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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