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

Keller then plunked two consecutive batters, forcing manager Craig Counsell to bring in Andrew Kittredge, who retired the next two to get the save and send the Cubs to the Division Series. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Finally, with his 27th pitch, Miller plunked leadoff hitter Michael Busch with a slider. —Dennis Lin, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

Warming Bernable struck out for the second out of the inning, but right-handed reliever Spencer Bivens plunked Ryan Ritter, loading the bases. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025

Nolan Gorman and Mason Wynn led off the ninth with back-to-back singles, then Walker loaded the bases by plunking Jimmy Crooks. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 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