plunge 1 of 2

verb

ˈplənj How to pronounce plunge (audio)
Definition of plungenext
1
as in to dive
to cast oneself head first into deep water she took a deep breath and plunged from the side of the pool

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2
as in to dip
to go to a lower level especially abruptly prices for those televisions have really plunged since they were first introduced

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3
as in to fall
to lead or extend downward a stairway plunging into darkness

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plunge

2 of 2

noun

1
as in dive
an act or instance of diving the Olympic diver took a well-executed plunge off the diving board

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2
as in drop
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude an overnight plunge in temperature sent the thermometer to below the freezing mark

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of plunge
Verb
Hewitt could be seen wearing a plunging white halterneck dress covered in black polka dots while dancing and singing along at the show. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 19 Aug. 2026 The 2005 changes caused the number of personal bankruptcies to plunge. — Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
Continue reading … ‘GODSEND’ — Former Chicago detective says one city's murder plunge offers Windy City crime blueprint. — FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Its collection of 23 villas come with private plunge pools and butler service, as well as expansive indoor-outdoor living spaces with views ranging from the rainforest to the Caribbean. — Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plunge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunge
  1. dive
  2. dip
  3. fall
  4. drop
  5. tumble
  6. descend
  7. descent
  8. decline
Verb
  • Raleigh dropped the ball, and Bauers dived back to the plate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Mysterio tried to dive back into the ring with a springboard, but Gable countered with a fisherman’s suplex in midair for a pinfall attempt.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of dive
Verb
  • And yet, Lucas and Scott aren’t afraid of occasionally dipping into not just realistic problems, but heavier ones, too.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
  • As the sun dips behind the canyon walls, the desert cools down rapidly, creating another window to head back out for a dusky hike.
    — Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of dip
Verb
  • When night falls, another show begins with a dedicated corner of the estate designed for stargazing.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Zinc ions enter the electrode first at higher voltages, while much smaller protons are stored later as the voltage falls.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall
Noun
  • Just across the street from the bus stop … lurks a deep drainage pool at the bottom of a sheer 12-foot drop from the street.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Colleges have add/drop periods and deadlines for students to enroll in courses for the semester.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of drop
Verb
  • Corporate movers Walmart shares tumbled 9% after its outlook disappointed Wall Street, a warning sign for consumer spending heading into the back half of the year from America's largest retailer.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
  • His timing was quicksilver when oil prices tumbled from $30 to under $10.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of tumble
Verb
  • Fully unrolled, the canvas was the size of the cargo container, looking like a dust storm descending over a desert town.
    — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • No other spacecraft has ever descended into the moon’s shadowy south polar craters, although NASA did crash a rocket into one in 2009 and watched a resultant plume of water vapor burst out.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of descend
Noun
  • In conversations with the American Jewish Committee, Ossoff shared that his father is of Russian and Lithuanian Jewish descent, and his relatives fled pogroms and antisemitism in Eastern Europe.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • As Petal begins a slow descent in the United Kingdom, Grande scores another bestselling album – one inextricably tied to her latest full-length.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of descent
Verb
  • Watts declined Rolling Stone’s multiple requests for an interview and did not specifically address a majority of questions posed to him in a detailed request for comment.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
  • When first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury in May, Devers declined to learn the position despite Boston’s dearth of options.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of decline

Browse Nearby Words

plunders
plunge
plunged
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Cite this Entry

“Plunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunge. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plunge

Nglish: Translation of plunge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plunge

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