plonk

1 of 2

verb

ˈpläŋk How to pronounce plonk (audio)
ˈplȯŋk

variant of plunk

transitive verb

1
: to pluck or hit so as to produce a quick, hollow, metallic, or harsh sound
2
: to set down suddenly : plump

intransitive verb

1
: to make a plunking sound
2
: to drop abruptly : dive
3
: to come out in favor of someone or something : plump
used with for

plonk

2 of 2

noun

ˈpläŋk How to pronounce plonk (audio)
ˈplȯŋk
chiefly British
: cheap or inferior wine

Examples of plonk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The Verdict La Palma sits like a stark white sugar cube plonked into the heart of Capri’s main town, a couple minutes’ walk from the Piazzetta. Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 Taurus Systems has proposed a few variant Taurus missiles, including models designed to launch from the open rear ramp of cargo aircraft (Taurus T), or surface-launched from containers that could be plonked onto trucks or ships (Taurus CL). Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023 But will Jacquet agree to alter what feels like a feature-length selfie, in which the director plonks himself in frame for a great many of the shots and then waxes poetic over the remaining images? Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Aug. 2023 Afterward, schoolchildren were invited in to plonk around on a Steinway. Melena Ryzik, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023 Icelandic Turf Houses Are Old-School Green With a Viking Twist Cob, Adobe, or Straw Bale Garden Buildings There are, of course, plenty of other ways to construct buildings that feel almost like an organic addition to your garden and not some foreign object that has just been plonked into place. Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 23 Mar. 2023 Its 114 bedrooms are in the main farmhouse, plus privacy-aiding cabins and huts plonked in over 100 acres of countryside and even an artificial lake. Julia Buckley, CNN, 1 May 2023 Consider buildings that are an organic addition to your garden, not just some foreign object that has been plonked into place. Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 23 Mar. 2023 There are clusters of gravestones, an odd one plonked in the middle of a paddy. Michelle Jana Chan, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2023
Noun
Even touches that border on cutesy, like a second shroom experiment that fails to bring back Older Elliott but instead plonks Chad into her childhood Justin Bieber obsession, are actually pretty hilarious. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2024 The plonk will be expertly paired with a selection of local Kiwi snacks, naturally. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2022 Actual wine was a pretty basic plonk at first, unornamented by comments about bouquet or terroir, so cheap and so plentiful that it was often poured free with restaurant meals. Patt Morrisoncolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2022 The debut of Shaw—sold for as little as $1.99 a bottle at Trader Joe’s and known as Two Buck Chuck—spawned a reverse snobbery: People boasted of finding a drinkable plonk for a pittance. James R. Hagerty, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Grandma drank two glasses of William’s homemade plonk. Miriam Toews, Harper's Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021 It’s almost like discovering how incredible an aged Bordeaux can taste after years of drinking plonk. Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2021 Later, microphones picked up a booming plonk when Cody Parkey’s kick hit the right upright on a point-after attempt. Marc Bona, cleveland, 21 Dec. 2020 These whiskey makers churned out dozens of different brands ranging from headache-inducing plonk to venerable greats such as Redbreast and Jameson. Russ Parsons, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plonk.' 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

Noun

short for earlier plink-plonk, perhaps modification of French vin blanc white wine

First Known Use

Noun

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plonk was in 1933

Dictionary Entries Near plonk

Cite this Entry

“Plonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plonk. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

plonk

variant of plunk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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