plunged; plunging
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
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
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
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
On Halloween of 2022, just weeks into the new school year, senior Ehni Ler Htoo was making his way through the halls of Proctor High School in Utica, New York, when a fellow student lurched at him from behind, repeatedly plunging a 9-inch hunting knife into his back.
—Tonya Simpson, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2025
Eyer's events feature an hour-long yoga class followed by an ice tub plunge and sauna session.
—Felicia Faber, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plunge
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
In the summer of 2022 when inflation was raging at four-decade highs and consumer sentiment plunged to its lowest level on record, Americans continued to spend at a solid clip in the following months.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
On Halloween of 2022, just weeks into the new school year, senior Ehni Ler Htoo was making his way through the halls of Proctor High School in Utica, New York, when a fellow student lurched at him from behind, repeatedly plunging a 9-inch hunting knife into his back.
—Tonya Simpson, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
Arkansas’ only touchdown was scored by 6-8, 344-pound offensive lineman Shaq McRoy on a 1-yard plunge at the goal line.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2025
Eyer's events feature an hour-long yoga class followed by an ice tub plunge and sauna session.
—Felicia Faber, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plunge
Cite this Entry
“Plunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plunge. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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