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plunge

/pləndʒ/
/pləndʒ/
IPA guide

Other forms: plunged; plunging; plunges

Plunge is a noun and a verb related to diving, falling, and sinking. A "polar bear plunge" is when people plunge into freezing cold water for charity or, inexplicably, for fun.

As a noun, plunge means “a brief swim” or “a fall.” As a verb, plunge has a variety of definitions. Plunge can mean “to devote yourself fully," as you might plunge into a job by working day and night. Similarly, if you plunge into a good book, you don't let anything distract you from your reading. Plunge can also mean “fall abruptly.” Someone’s reputation might plunge after a scandal, or the stock market might plunge when investors react to bad news.

Definitions of plunge
  1. verb
    dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity
    “She plunged at it eagerly”
    synonyms:
    launch
    begin with vigor
    see moresee less
    type of:
    dart, dash, flash, scoot, scud, shoot
    run or move very quickly or hastily
  2. verb
    begin with vigor
    “She plunged into a dangerous adventure”
    synonyms: launch
    see moresee less
    type of:
    begin, commence, get, get down, set about, set out, start, start out
    take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
  3. verb
    thrust or throw into
    synonyms: immerse
    see moresee less
    types:
    dip, douse, dunk, souse
    immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
    dip
    plunge (one's hand or a receptacle) into a container
    dip
    immerse in a disinfectant solution
    submerge, submerse
    put under water
    soak
    submerge in a liquid
    sheathe
    plunge or bury (a knife or sword) in flesh
    sop
    dip into liquid
    dip, douse, duck
    dip into a liquid
    dabble
    dip a foot or hand briefly into a liquid
    type of:
    penetrate, perforate
    pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
  4. verb
    cause to be immersed
    “The professor plunged his students into the study of the Italian text”
    synonyms: immerse
    absorb, engross, engulf, immerse, soak up, steep
    devote (oneself) fully to
  5. verb
    immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
    synonyms: dip, douse, dunk, souse
    see moresee less
    types:
    sop
    dip into liquid
    dip, douse, duck
    dip into a liquid
    dabble
    dip a foot or hand briefly into a liquid
    type of:
    immerse
    thrust or throw into
  6. verb
    devote (oneself) fully to
    immerse
    cause to be immersed
    see moresee less
    types:
    drink, drink in
    be fascinated or spell-bound by; pay close attention to
    type of:
    center, centre, concentrate, focus, pore, rivet
    direct one's attention on something
  7. noun
    a brief swim in water
    synonyms: dip
    see moresee less
    type of:
    swim, swimming
    the act of swimming
  8. verb
    drop steeply
    “the stock market plunged”
    synonyms: dive, plunk
    dump
    fall abruptly
    see moresee less
    types:
    power-dive
    make a power dive
    nosedive
    plunge nose first; drop with the nose or front first, of aircraft
    duck
    submerge or plunge suddenly
    crash-dive
    descend steeply and rapidly
    chute, jump, parachute
    jump from an airplane and descend with a parachute
    sky dive, skydive
    jump from an airplane and perform various maneuvers before opening one's parachute
    type of:
    come down, descend, fall, go down
    move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
  9. verb
    fall abruptly
    “It plunged to the bottom of the well”
    synonyms: dump
    dive, plunk
    drop steeply
    see moresee less
    type of:
    drop
    fall vertically
  10. noun
    a steep and rapid fall
    see moresee less
    type of:
    drop, fall
    a free and rapid descent by the force of gravity
Pronunciation
US
/pləndʒ/
UK
/pləndʒ/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘plunge'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of gold-punch.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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