plunge
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to jump or dive quickly into water or another liquid.
v.to dive, leap, or rush headlong into a liquid substance.
Simple“We decided to plunge into the cold lake even though it was raining.”
In context“The children spent the entire afternoon watching the local divers plunge from the high cliffs into the turquoise waters below.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'into'.
- 02 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.
Simple“Stock prices began to plunge after the company released its poor earnings report.”
In context“Temperatures are expected to plunge overnight as a cold front moves across the northern plains.”
UsageIntransitive; frequently used in financial and meteorological contexts.
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to push something quickly and forcefully into something else.
v.to thrust or impel something into a penetrable substance or state with force.
Simple“He plunged the shovel into the hard ground to start the garden.”
In context“The chef plunged the tomatoes into boiling water for thirty seconds to loosen their skins before peeling them.”
UsageTransitive; requires a direct object.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“He decided to plunge his entire inheritance on a single horse race.”
In context“After losing his initial stake, the gambler chose to plunge even further, hoping a single win would clear his mounting debts.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is specific to high-stakes gambling contexts and is less common in everyday conversation.
- 05 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.
Simple“You might need to plunge the kitchen sink if the water stops draining.”
In context“The maintenance worker had to plunge the industrial drain several times before the obstruction finally cleared.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“The sudden plunge in temperatures caught many hikers without warm clothes.”
In context“After months of hesitation, she finally took the plunge and quit her job to start her own business.”
Teacher's tipThe idiom 'take the plunge' means to decide to do something important or difficult that you have been thinking about for a long time.
“The total eclipse plunged a vast swathe of Spain from broad daylight into darkness Wednesday, drawing awed gasps and applause from spectators gathered in parks and cities across the country.”
“A total solar eclipse will plunge parts of Europe into darkness on August 12, 2026, with Spain offering some of the best views.”
From Middle English plungen, ploungen, Anglo-Norman plungier, from Old French plongier, (Modern French plonger), from unattested Late Latin frequentative *plumbicō (“to throw a leaded line”), from plumbum (“lead”). Compare plumb, plounce.
Back-formation from plunger.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.