plunge

[ pluhnj ]
See synonyms for plunge on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),plunged, plung·ing.
  1. to cast or thrust forcibly or suddenly into something, as a liquid, a penetrable substance, a place, etc.; immerse; submerge: to plunge a dagger into one's heart.

  2. to bring suddenly or forcibly into some condition, situation, etc.: to plunge a country into war; to pull a switch and plunge a house into darkness.

  1. Horticulture. to place (a potted plant) up to its rim in soil or in certain other materials, as sand or moss.

  2. Surveying. to transit (the telescope of a transit or theodolite).

verb (used without object),plunged, plung·ing.
  1. to cast oneself, or fall as if cast, into water, a hole, etc.

  2. to rush or dash with headlong haste: to plunge through a crowd.

  1. to bet or speculate recklessly: to plunge on the stock market.

  2. to throw oneself impetuously or abruptly into some condition, situation, matter, etc.: to plunge into debt.

  3. to descend abruptly or precipitously, as a cliff, road, etc.

  4. to pitch violently forward, as a horse, ship, etc.

noun
  1. act of plunging.

  2. a leap or dive, as into water.

  1. a headlong or impetuous rush or dash: a plunge into danger.

  2. a sudden, violent pitching movement.

  3. a place for plunging or diving, as a swimming pool.

  4. Geology. pitch1 (def. 45).

Idioms about plunge

  1. take the plunge, to enter with sudden decision upon an unfamiliar course of action, as after hesitation or deliberation: She took the plunge and invested her entire savings in the plan.

Origin of plunge

1
1325–75; Middle English <Middle French plung(i)er ≪ Vulgar Latin *plumbicāre to heave the lead. See plumb

synonym study For plunge

1. See dip1.

Other words for plunge

Other words from plunge

  • re·plunge, verb, re·plunged, re·plung·ing; noun
  • un·plunged, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use plunge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for plunge

plunge

/ (plʌndʒ) /


verb
  1. (usually foll by into) to thrust or throw (something, oneself, etc): they plunged into the sea

  2. to throw or be thrown into a certain state or condition: the room was plunged into darkness

  1. (usually foll by into) to involve or become involved deeply (in): he plunged himself into a course of Sanskrit

  2. (intr) to move or dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity

  3. (intr) to descend very suddenly or steeply: the ship plunged in heavy seas; a plunging neckline

  4. (intr) informal to speculate or gamble recklessly, for high stakes, etc

noun
  1. a leap or dive as into water

  2. informal a swim; dip

  1. mainly US a place where one can swim or dive, such as a swimming pool

  2. a headlong rush: a plunge for the exit

  3. a pitching or tossing motion

  4. take the plunge informal

    • to resolve to do something dangerous or irrevocable

    • to get married

Origin of plunge

1
C14: from Old French plongier, from Vulgar Latin plumbicāre (unattested) to sound with a plummet, from Latin plumbum lead

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with plunge

plunge

see take the plunge.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.