plunge

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to decrease or fall very quickly in value, temperature, or amount.

v. to experience a sudden and significant decrease in value, rate, or quantity.

“Stock prices began to plunge after the company released its poor earnings report.”

“Temperatures are expected to plunge overnight as a cold front moves across the northern plains.”

C1 · Advanced Literary

v. to push something quickly and forcefully into something else.

v. to thrust or impel something into a penetrable substance or state with force.

“He plunged the shovel into the hard ground to start the garden.”

“The chef plunged the tomatoes into boiling water for thirty seconds to loosen their skins before peeling them.”

C2 · Proficiency Slang

v. to bet a lot of money in a risky way.

v. to bet heavily and recklessly, especially in horse racing or high-stakes speculation.

“He decided to plunge his entire inheritance on a single horse race.”

“After losing his initial stake, the gambler chose to plunge even further, hoping a single win would clear his mounting debts.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to use a tool to push air or water through a pipe to clear a blockage.

v. to remove a blockage from a pipe or drain using suction or pressure, typically with a plunger.

“You might need to plunge the kitchen sink if the water stops draining.”

“The maintenance worker had to plunge the industrial drain several times before the obstruction finally cleared.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a quick jump into water or a sudden drop in something.

n. an act of plunging; a sudden dive or a rapid decrease in value.

“The sudden plunge in temperatures caught many hikers without warm clothes.”

“After months of hesitation, she finally took the plunge and quit her job to start her own business.”