plunge into

phrasal verb

plunged into; plunging into; plunges into
1
: to push (something) into (something) quickly and forcefully
He plunged the knife into the cake.
I plunged the sponge into the bucket of water.
2
: to start doing (something) with enthusiasm and energy
She plunged (right) into the assignment.
3
: to suddenly begin to be in (a particular and usually bad condition or situation)
He plunged into a severe depression.
4
: to cause (someone or something) to suddenly be in (a particular condition or situation)
A series of bad management decisions had plunged the company into debt.
The author plunges his readers into a world of fantasy.

Examples of plunge into 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.
Saturday night, large swaths of San Francisco were plunged into darkness, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere in affected neighborhoods. Da Lin, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025 When the red-haired ghost appears, Jess and her ally Beckett plunge into investigating why the woman’s husband was blamed for her death and has been in prison for 40 years. Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2025 Before that tragic night, when a family was plunged into a horrifying nightmare, Michele Reiner built a life based on service, love and devotion to a better world. Sandra Gonzalez, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025 During the solstice, the Northern Hemisphere plunges into darkness and typically has cooler temperatures because of the lack of direct sunlight, NASA said in a blog post. Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plunge into

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plunge into.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plunge%20into. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.

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!