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

• 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

After Beijing announces that major Taiwan ports have been mined, sea traffic to Taiwan nosedives as shipping insurance rates soar. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025

Auburn’s offense has taken a nosedive since starting SEC play. —Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025

The peso entered a nosedive that threatened to send inflation soaring back up – right before an even bigger electoral test, with midterms now two weeks away. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025

As much as last year’s captains helped Notre Dame pull out of the nosedive after Northern Illinois, this year’s turnaround feels more led by Freeman’s fist. —Pete Sampson, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

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
• revive
• survive
• dive

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