nosedive

noun

nose·​dive ˈnōz-ˌdīv 

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

Synonyms of nosedive

• drop
• dip
• decline
• plunge
• descent
• fall

Examples of nosedive in a Sentence

The plane went into a nosedive.

The stock market took a nosedive.

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s how much of a blip on the radar what once seemed a terrifying nosedive off democracy’s cliff is today. — Greg Jackson, Time, 23 June 2026

The baseball took a nosedive toward the outfield grass as Caglianone appeared to catch it inside his glove’s webbing. — Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026

There are a number of signs beyond this V6 issue that their reliability has taken a nosedive. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 3 June 2026

The nosedive in trust in journalism is multifactorial, and journalists themselves are not without blame. — Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nosedive

• overdrive
• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive
• contrive
• deprive
• derive
• khedive
• revive
• survive

Kids Definition

nosedive

1 of 2 noun

nose·​dive ˈnōz-ˌdīv 

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