plunge

1 of 2

verb

plunged; plunging

transitive verb

1
: to cause to penetrate or enter quickly and forcibly into something
plunged the dagger
2
: to cause to enter a state or course of action usually suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently
plunged the nation into economic depression

intransitive verb

1
: to thrust or cast oneself into or as if into water
2
a
: to become pitched or thrown headlong or violently forward and downward
also : to move oneself in such a manner
plunged off the embankment
b
: to act with reckless haste : enter suddenly or unexpectedly
plunges into project after project
c
: to bet or gamble heavily and recklessly
3
: to descend or dip suddenly
the stock's value plunged

plunge

2 of 2

noun

: an act or instance of plunging : dive
also : swim

see also take the plunge

Examples of plunge in a Sentence

Verb Her car plunged off a bridge. The stock market plunged yesterday. The President's approval rating has plunged to 20 percent. The moose population has plunged in recent years. The rocky cliffs plunge into the swirling rapids below. The road plunges down the mountain. Noun Amazingly, the cat survived its plunge from the building's roof. Market analysts predicted a price plunge. The store experienced a sharp plunge in sales.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Ampere Analysis forecast a few days back that in 2024 51% of Netflix’s $15.4 billion film and TV budget will be spent on titles made outside the U.S. Global content spent, excluding sports, will soar 40% over 2022-28, while U.S. spend will plunge 20%. John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 See What Was Inside the Oscars Snack Boxes — Complete with a Cheeky Note from Host Jimmy Kimmel Alba made a glittery entrance in a Tamara Ralph metallic sequin gown with romantic off-the-shoulder sleeves and rosette buds along a plunging neckline and silhouette. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 The cost of natural gas piped into the home by utilities such as PG&E plunged 12.9% in February over the one year. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 As Selena Gomez recently demonstrated, a plunging firetruck red gown with a thigh-high slit will put anyone in a party mood, no tights required. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 12 Mar. 2024 In parka strongholds Burlington, Vermont, and Portland, Maine, the thermometer never plunged below zero. Seth Borenstein, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024 The bank’s stock plunged more than 40% earlier on Wednesday after The Wall Street Journal reported that the bank was seeking a major cash infusion. Krystal Hur, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 The 2024 race will be the first post-Roe presidential election, plunging both parties into uncharted political terrain. Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 During liposuction, doctors use a metal rod called a cannula to remove fat through a surgical incision, plunging the instrument in and out of the patient’s body. Daniel Chang, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
Noun
Out back, a plunge pool has a Baja shelf for sunbathing and inset spa; back inside the house are a movie theater and gym for further relaxation. James McClain, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 The full-service facility uses Hawaiian techniques in its services and includes a unique outdoor hydrotherapy garden that houses both hot and cold plunge pools. Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 That means the cold air trapped at the top of the planet, called the polar vortex, escapes its normal confines and drifts elsewhere, bringing short plunges of frigid air that temporarily counteracts the overall warming trend in places, Dr. Cohen said. Seth Borenstein, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024 This spring, Berlin will add a Scandinavian-style sauna and cold plunge pool overlooking the ocean. New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 L’Oreal’s shares are yet to recover after disappointing sales due to a decline in shopping by Chinese travelers triggered a one-day plunge of more than 7% earlier in February. Ishika Mookerjee, Fortune Asia, 28 Feb. 2024 Every neighborhood in Iceland has a community swimming pool with hot tubs and cold plunges and saunas and steam rooms. Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2024 All 539 suites are spacious, more than 1,100 square feet each, each with outdoor terraces, and some with private plunge pools. Roger Sands, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 On the outside deck are a plunge pool and Peloton bike. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plunge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French plunger, from Vulgar Latin *plumbicare, from Latin plumbum lead

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plunge was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near plunge

Cite this Entry

“Plunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plunge. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

plunge

1 of 2 verb
plunged; plunging
1
: to push or drive into something with force
plunged a knife into the pie
2
: to leap or dive into water
3
a
: to rush with reckless haste
plunged into debt
b
: to bring into an unpleasant state
plunged the family into gloom
4
: to dip or move suddenly downward or forward and downward
the road plunges along the slope

plunge

2 of 2 noun
: a sudden dive, leap, or rush

More from Merriam-Webster on plunge

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