dive

1 of 2

verb

dived ˈdīvd How to pronounce dive (audio) or dove ˈdōv How to pronounce dive (audio) ; dived also dove; diving

intransitive verb

1
a
: to plunge into water intentionally and especially headfirst
also : to execute a dive (see dive entry 2 sense 1a(1))
diving into the pool from the highest platform
b
: submerge
the submarine dived
2
a
: to come or drop down precipitously : plunge
the temperature is diving
b
: to plunge one's hand into something
dived into his pocket
c
of an airplane : to descend in a dive
3
a
: to plunge into some matter or activity
she dove into her studies
b
: to plunge or dash for some place
diving for cover
also : to lunge especially in order to seize something
dove for the ball

transitive verb

1
: to thrust into something
diving one's hands into the icy water
2
: to cause to dive
dive a submarine
Dived vs. Dove: Usage Guide

Dive, which was originally a weak verb, developed a past tense dove, probably by analogy with verbs like drive, drove. Dove exists in some British dialects and has become the standard past tense especially in speech in some parts of Canada. In the U.S. dived and dove are both widespread in speech as past tense and past participle, with dove less common than dived in the south Midland area, and dived less common than dove in the Northern and north Midland areas. In writing, the past tense dived is usual in British English and somewhat more common in American English. Dove seems relatively rare as a past participle in writing.

dive

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or an instance of diving: such as
a(1)
: a plunge into water executed in a prescribed manner
practicing her dives
(2)
nautical : a submerging of a submarine
(3)
aviation : a steep descent of an airplane at greater than the maximum speed of horizontal flight
b
: a sharp decline
Stocks took a dive.
2
: a shabby and disreputable establishment (such as a bar or nightclub)
3
combat sports : a faked knockout
usually used in the phrase take a dive
a boxer accused of taking a dive
4
football : an offensive (see offensive entry 1 sense 1c) play in which the ballcarrier plunges into the line (see line entry 1 sense 7f(2)) for short yardage

Examples of dive in a Sentence

Verb She dove into the swimming pool. The children like to dive off the boat. The competitors will be diving from the highest platform. Many people enjoy diving on the island's coral reefs. You can't dive in this water without a wet suit. The submarine can dive to 3,000 feet. The whale dove down to deeper water. Noun She practiced her dives for the competition. This will be my first dive on a coral reef. She has done dives all around the world. The crew of the submarine prepared for a dive. The jet rolled into a dive.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
To help her two friends learn more about what Earth is all about, the singer dives into a catchy song as the trio travels through different landscapes — from green rolling hills to fields of flowers. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2024 The best time to dive in Tulum is between May and November. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2024 The Great Game: Houses of the Landsraad gives players a chance to dive into greater detail on their Houses. Rob Wieland, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The ad shows the actor literally and metaphorically diving into the world of online shopping, stocking up on said-cleats and dozens of other items (including golf clubs for himself). Tim Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024 Fans will finally get to see Paul Simon dive into his songwriting legacy and the high points of his nearly seven-decade career in music when the biopic In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon hits streaming next month. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 29 Feb. 2024 Kids in the class will dive into Mason-specific history, too. The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 Fortune Reddit plans to go public Social media company Reddit is diving into the IPO market right as investors are more skeptical of high-growth, unprofitable companies. Diane Brady, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2024 Their latest album, The Past is Still Alive, dives into deeply personal stories from their vagabond youth. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
Where To Eat on 30A From classic Southern fare to bustling rooftop bars to seafood dives, the restaurants scattered along 30A will satisfy (and fill up) everyone, from the most fastidious foodie to the pickiest nibbler. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2024 So a forecast that promises a significant dollar rally followed by a dive should be enough to turn the stomachs of some investors. Simon Constable, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Speaking of fish, seafood lovers should grab a meal at Matterhorn, a local dive located between the ski lifts and town that’s a lively spot for music, pub fare, and (trust us) some of the best sushi in the state. Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2024 Members of the sheriff’s office search and rescue team, dive team, boating safety unit and other agencies responded to the scene to aid in the recovery of the two children. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024 While displays of photos, dollar bills and knickknacks above bottles of bourbon are pretty typical in neighborhood dives, the vibe of the corner bar at 412 N. Fifth St. in Kansas City, Kansas, is its own thing. Allison Dikanovic, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024 About an hour into the dive, a white-ish blob emerged in the distance. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2024 Comfort is hard-fought as the protagonist’s dive inward to make sense of the estranged sentiments felt in trying to adjust to their expectations. Holly Jones, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024 And $750,000 dives to the bottom of the Mariana Trench help real-deal ocean exploration science by enabling operators to amortize the cost of building the expensive submersibles that do the research and also take the tourists down. Jim Clash, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dive.' 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 diven, duven, from Old English dȳfan to dip & dūfan to dive; akin to Old English dyppan to dip — more at dip

Noun

derivative of dive entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dive was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near dive

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

dive

1 of 2 verb
dived ˈdīvd How to pronounce dive (audio) or dove ˈdōv How to pronounce dive (audio) ; diving
1
a
: to plunge into water headfirst
2
a
: to fall fast
the temperature dived at night
b
: to descend in an airplane at a very steep angle
3
a
: to plunge into some matter or activity
b
: to thrust oneself forward suddenly : lunge
dived for cover
diver noun

dive

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act or an instance of diving: as
a
: a plunge into water done in a specified manner
b
: a steep downward movement of a submarine or an airplane
c
: a sharp drop (as in prices)
2
: a shabby place (as a bar)
3
: a faked knockout in boxing

More from Merriam-Webster on dive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!