deep dive

noun

plural deep dives

: an exhaustive investigation, study, or analysis of a question or topic

Researchers … have taken a deep dive into the seismic activity that has shaken the Permian Basin in recent years.

—Midland (Texas) Reporter-Telegram

After discovering that his late father was a war hero, a son takes a deep dive into World War II and the terrors of the Nazi regime.

—Kirkus Reviews

What begins as a deep dive into the business practices of multilevel marketing and direct sales companies … becomes something larger, and even more rage-inducing: a story about the enviable perks of being rich and well connected in America.

—Pete Keeley

Yet a deep dive into the far reaches of Instagram reveals that a golden age of tattoos has arrived …

—Monica Kim

Examples of deep dive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If the committee chair has flagged a topic ahead of time, treat it as a real deep dive, not a slide to skim past. — Marc Blythe, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Sperm whales take their naps by first diving down a bit before the buoyant head turns toward the surface; by sinking tail-first to a depth of roughly 8 meters; or by slowly ascending to the surface after a deep dive (over 200 meters). — ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026

But it must be followed with a deep dive to detect other abuses. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

The best part of the competition is taking a deep dive into a specific topic, Wadkins said, and also listening to the other students’ presentations to learn more about a specific time or person in history. — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deep dive

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