plunged; plunging
1
: to cause to penetrate or enter quickly and forcibly into something
plunged the dagger
2
: to cause to enter a state or course of action usually suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently
plunged the nation into economic depression
1
: to thrust or cast oneself into or as if into water
2
a
: to become pitched or thrown headlong or violently forward and downward
also
: to move oneself in such a manner
plunged off the embankment
b
: to act with reckless haste : enter suddenly or unexpectedly
plunges into project after project
c
: to bet or gamble heavily and recklessly
3
: to descend or dip suddenly
the stock's value plunged
Examples of plunge in a Sentence
Verb
Her car plunged off a bridge.
The stock market plunged yesterday.
The President's approval rating has plunged to 20 percent.
The moose population has plunged in recent years.
The rocky cliffs plunge into the swirling rapids below.
The road plunges down the mountain.
Noun
Amazingly, the cat survived its plunge from the building's roof.
Market analysts predicted a price plunge.
The store experienced a sharp plunge in sales.
Recent Examples on the Web
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
From 1804 to 1810, their incomes plunged by more than forty per cent.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Elise Taylor, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2025
Just off the east coast of the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui), the situation is reversed – there, the Pacific plate plunges below the Australian one.
—Laurie Winkless, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plunge
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show current usage.
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Verb
For instance, during the 2022 inflation shock, Tesla stock plunged 73.6% compared to a 25.4% drop in the S&P 500.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
From 1804 to 1810, their incomes plunged by more than forty per cent.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
The spa has a similar indoor-outdoor feel: the yoga studio looks out onto greenery while hot and cold plunge pools come with a wide view of the hills.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2025
Just off the east coast of the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui), the situation is reversed – there, the Pacific plate plunges below the Australian one.
—Laurie Winkless, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plunge
Cite this Entry
“Plunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plunge. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plunge
1 of 2 verb
plunged; plunging
1
: to push or drive into something with force
plunged a knife into the pie
2
: to leap or dive into water
3
a
: to rush with reckless haste
plunged into debt
b
: to bring into an unpleasant state
plunged the family into gloom
4
: to dip or move suddenly downward or forward and downward
the road plunges along the slope
plunge
2 of 2 noun
: a sudden dive, leap, or rush
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