plunge

/plʌndʒ/

Reviewed on

Also a noun

Meaning

  1. To jump, dive, or fall suddenly and energetically into water or another substance.

    • Swimmers plunged into the freezing ocean during the annual New Year's Day charity event.

    • Did the stunt driver plunge straight off the cliff into the deep river below?

  2. To push or thrust something forcefully into something else.

    • The chef plunged the meat thermometer deep into the center of the roasted turkey.

    • She will plunge the red-hot blade into cold oil to harden the steel.

  3. To decrease rapidly and significantly in value, amount, or rate.

    • Tech stocks plunged sharply following news of strict government regulations across the industry.

    • Why did overnight temperatures plunge so dramatically throughout the upper Midwest this week?

  4. To suddenly force someone or something into a difficult, dark, or chaotic state.

    • A severe lightning strike plunged the entire downtown district into complete darkness last night.

    • The unexpected factory closure had plunged hundreds of local families into deep debt.

How it's used

When this means “dive or fall into something”

  • plunge into the lake

“plunged into it.”

The kids plunged into the cool lake.

When this means “thrust an object into something”

  • plunge a knife into the wood

“plunged it into the wood.”

He plunged a knife into the soft wood.

Collocations

  • temperatures plunge
  • profits plunge
  • plunge into chaos
  • plunge into darkness

Synonyms

Antonyms