take the plunge

idiomatic phrase

informal
: to do or undertake something especially after a period of hesitation or uncertainty
Up to now, I've avoided growing roses … . But last winter the ripe catalogue shots of roses took hold in my imagination, and I decided to take the plunge.Michael Pollan
As with any new OS upgrade, it is prudent to wait awhile before taking the plunge, to make sure others have had a chance to find all the bugs.Peter H. Lewis
If you've considered buying an e-reader but haven't yet taken the plunge, there's no longer a need to wait.Joshua J. Romero

Examples of take the plunge 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.
If this bold shade of red has always felt like a gamble, let the spirit of autumn finally convince you to take the plunge. Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2025 Nicole and Felicia Chang have finally taken the plunge down the runway. Ari Stark, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025 Faced with the decision of finding another rental or taking the plunge into ownership, her broader life circumstances led her to the latter. Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025 Bolton took the plunge and signed him for a club-record outlay of £8million. Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take the plunge

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take the plunge was in 1840

Cite this Entry

“Take the plunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20plunge. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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