plunk

verb

ˈpləŋk 

variants or plonk

ˈpläŋk 

ˈplȯŋk

plunked or plonked; plunking or plonking; plunks or plonks

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

plunk noun

plunker noun

Synonyms

• toss
• plop
• sling
• plump

Examples of plunk in a Sentence

You've been plunking that banjo all afternoon!

She plunked out a little tune on the piano.

plunking away on a guitar

The pitcher plunked the first two batters of the game.

She plunked a mug of coffee on the counter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Bello plunked the leadoff batter, Jo Adell, and walked Chris Taylor. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025

Suarez was ejected after his 3-0 fastball plunked Ohtani in the shoulder area. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025

The calm lasted a half-inning after Suarez plunked Ohtani in the shoulder. —Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

But Rodón plunked Rafael Devers to begin the sixth, then walked Rob Refsnyder before Narvaez’s 372-foot home run gave Boston a 5-3 lead. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing plunk

• plunk down

Rhymes for plunk

• bunk
• chunk
• clunk
• drunk
• dunk
• hunk
• junk
• punk
• shrunk
• slunk
• spunk
• sunk

Kids Definition

plunk

verb

ˈpləŋk 

variants or plonk

ˈpläŋk 

ˈplȯŋk

1

: to make or cause to make a hollow, metallic, or harsh sound

plunk the strings of a banjo

2

: to drop or set down suddenly

plunk a suitcase on the bench

plunk noun