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 of plunk

• plop

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

Dracula has been defeated for good, but his castle has plunked itself down in Paris and all sorts of demons — not to mention Joan of Arc — are on the loose. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026

Antonacci has been plunked 33 times this year, including a franchise-record 29 in the regular season. — Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Beyond the door was a one-bedroom apartment plunked right on the edge of the sea. — Callie Thorpe, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Op de Beeck seemed right at home plunked on one of his polyester Chesterfields, observing the artisans quietly assembling leather goods beyond the bamboo. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026

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