plunge

noun countable

UK /plʌndʒ/

Word Forms

singular	plunge
plural	plunges

1
a quick fall from a high position
the plane’s plunge into the sea
Synonyms and related words
Movements downwards
fall
descent
plunge
1. 1a
  a jump or dive into water
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for swimming and diving
  backstroke
  bathe
  bathing
2
a sudden reduction in the amount or level of something
plunge in:
the plunge in oil prices
Synonyms and related words
Rates of decrease and the process of decreasing
decrease
reduction
decline

phrases

take the plunge

plunge

noun countable

US /plʌndʒ/

Word Forms

singular	plunge
plural	plunges

1
a quick fall from a high position
The network broadcast footage of the plane’s plunge into the ocean.
Synonyms and related words
Movements downwards
fall
descent
plunge
1. 1a
  a jump or dive into water
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for swimming and diving
  backstroke
  bathe
  bathing
2
a sudden reduction in the amount or level of something
plunge in:
the plunge in oil prices
Synonyms and related words
Rates of decrease and the process of decreasing
decrease
reduction
decline

phrases

take the plunge

plunge

verb

UK /plʌndʒ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	plunge
he/she/it	plunges
present participle	plunging
past tense	plunged
past participle	plunged

1
intransitive to fall quickly from a high position
It was still dark when the helicopter plunged 500 feet into the sea.
His car had plunged off the mountain road in heavy rain.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to move something downwards
fall
lower
come down
1. 1a
  transitive to make someone or something fall quickly from a high position
  The wind suddenly shifted and they were both plunged off the cliff.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move, or to move something downwards
  fall
  lower
  come down
2. 1b
  intransitive to slope downwards suddenly
  Stone steps plunged down to the basement.
  Synonyms and related words
  What roads, paths and areas of land do
  ascend
  bend
  bifurcate
  Synonyms and related words
  Slopes and sloping
  slope
  tilt
  incline
2
intransitive if an amount or level plunges, it suddenly becomes much lower
The temperature is expected to plunge below zero degrees overnight.
Synonyms and related words
To become less in size, amount or value
crater
decrease
decline
3
intransitive/transitive to move quickly in an uncontrolled way, or to make someone or something move in this way
He plunged towards the door and wrenched it open.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed
Synonyms and related words
To move something quickly
fling
skim
slide
1. 3a
  intransitive if a ship plunges, it moves up and down on water in an uncontrolled way
  Synonyms and related words
  What ships and boats do
  capsize
  cast off
  come about
4
transitive to suddenly put someone or something in a much less successful situation, or to be suddenly put in such a situation
A string of recent defeats has plunged the team dangerously near the bottom of the table.
Synonyms and related words
To be in, or to get into a difficult situation
run out of road
suffer
undergo

phrasal verbs

plunge in

plunge into

plunge

verb

US /plʌndʒ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	plunge
he/she/it	plunges
present participle	plunging
past tense	plunged
past participle	plunged

1
intransitive to fall quickly from a high position
It was still dark when the helicopter plunged 500 feet into the ocean.
His car had plunged off the mountain road in heavy rain.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to move something downwards
fall
lower
come down
1. 1a
  transitive to make someone or something fall quickly from a high position
  The wind suddenly shifted and they were both plunged off the cliff.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move, or to move something downwards
  fall
  lower
  come down
2. 1b
  intransitive to slope downward suddenly
  Stone steps plunged down to the basement.
  Synonyms and related words
  What roads, paths and areas of land do
  ascend
  bend
  bifurcate
  Synonyms and related words
  Slopes and sloping
  slope
  tilt
  incline
2
transitive to suddenly put someone or something in a much less successful situation, or to be suddenly put in such a situation
A string of recent defeats has plunged the team dangerously near the bottom of the table.
Synonyms and related words
To be in, or to get into a difficult situation
run out of road
suffer
undergo
3
intransitive if an amount or level plunges, it suddenly becomes much lower
The temperature is expected to plunge below zero tonight.
Synonyms and related words
To become less in size, amount or value
crater
decrease
diminish
4
transitive Americanto push a plunger into a toilet, sink, or bathtub in order to stop a pipe from being blocked
Synonyms and related words
Plumbing and drainage systems
airlock
back up
blockage
5
intransitive/transitive to move quickly in an uncontrolled way, or to make someone or something move in this way
He plunged toward the door and wrenched it open.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed
Synonyms and related words
To move something quickly
fling
skim
slide
1. 5a
  intransitive if a ship plunges, it moves up and down on water in an uncontrolled way
  Synonyms and related words
  What ships and boats do
  capsize
  cast off
  come about

phrasal verbs

plunge in

plunge into

plunge

plunge

plunge ​‌‌

plunge ​‌‌

plunge

plunge