plummet

1 of 2

verb

plum·​met ˈplə-mət 

plummeted; plummeting; plummets

intransitive verb

1

: to fall perpendicularly

birds plummeted down

2

: to drop sharply and abruptly

prices plummeted

plummet

2 of 2

noun

1

: plumb

also : plumb line

2

: an abrupt drop : an instance of plummeting

a sharp plummet in prices

If in the final week of the season, the Mets were trying to stop a plummet off a cliff, they are now attempting to climb out of a dark, deep abyss …

—Judy Battista

Synonyms of plummet

Verb

• fall
• plunge
• decline
• tumble
• dip
• drop

Examples of plummet in a Sentence

Verb

The acrobat plummeted into the net.

The car plummeted to the bottom of the canyon.

The satellite plummeted into the ocean.

Stock prices plummeted 40 percent during the scandal.

The TV show has plummeted in the ratings.

Temperatures are expected to plummet this weekend.

The town's population plummets when the students leave for the summer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

New York’s number of millionaires doubled but overall its share compared to other states in the country plummeted, trailing behind Texas, Florida and California, according to the financial think tank Citizens Budget Commission. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Conversely, Saudi Arabia’s Port of Dammam, which lies on the Persian Gulf, saw its business collapse in the period due to the lack of traffic, with imports plummeting 92 percent and exports sinking 98 percent. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 21 July 2026

Noun

When algorithms see these frictions falling away, the need for a driver premium plummets, deflating the surge price. — Christopher S. Tang, The Conversation, 8 July 2026

Meanwhile, the non-user retention rate plummets to just 1 percent. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 25 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English plomet, from Anglo-French plumet, plomet, from plum lead, lead weight — more at plumb

First Known Use

Verb

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for plummet

• summit

Kids Definition

plummet

1 of 2 noun

plum·​met ˈpləm-ət 

1

: plumb entry 1

2

: plumb line

plummet

2 of 2 verb

: to fall straight down : plunge