Plunge

/plʌndʒ/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a fall or descent.

The plunge of the cliff took his breath away as he stood at the edge.

an act of plunging; a sudden, forceful or rapid movement.

They took a plunge into the icy water during their summer adventures.

a sudden decrease in value or amount.

The company experienced a significant plunge in sales this quarter.

verb

to fall or descend abruptly or dramatically.

The stock market plunged after the disappointing economic news.

to immerse or submerge something in a liquid.

She decided to plunge her hands into the cold water to feel the temperature.

to move or act with sudden speed or force.

The athlete plunged into the pool at the sound of the starting gun.

Middle English, from Old French 'plonger', from Latin 'plumbicare'

take the plunge

To make a decision to do something significant or challenging after much consideration.

plunge into

To start doing something with a lot of enthusiasm.

plunge headfirst

To do something with great enthusiasm and without hesitation.

dive

To jump into water or to go down quickly.

immerse

To involve deeply in a particular activity.

To jump into a commitment or situation without careful consideration.

He really took the plunge when he proposed.

To spend a lot of money on something impulsively.

After a month of saving, she plunged on a new car.