dive for

phrase

: to suddenly jump toward (something that is on or near the ground)
He dove for the ball.
When the shooting started, he dove for cover.
sometimes used figuratively
Her books always have me diving for my dictionary.

Examples of dive for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Within the first minute, a Belgian charged down the field and rocketed the ball toward the goal; the keeper, Matt Freese, had to dive for the save. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dive for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dive%20for. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster