Word
plunging
Phoneticsplung·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɫəndʒɪŋ/
UK/plˈʌndʒɪŋ/
Definition
adj. falling or dropping very quickly and suddenly. It often describes a price that goes down fast or a piece of clothing with a very low neck.
adj. falling or dropping suddenly and steeply; also describes a neckline cut very low at the front. Often used as a participial adjective to describe rapid declines in value or physical depth.
Examples
“The company is worried about its plunging profits.”
“Investors reacted with panic to the news of plunging stock prices during the morning trade.”
“The hikers stood at the edge of the plunging cliff, looking down at the jagged rocks and the churning sea hundreds of feet below.”
Examples
simple
“The company is worried about its plunging profits.”
contextual
“Investors reacted with panic to the news of plunging stock prices during the morning trade.”
complex
“The hikers stood at the edge of the plunging cliff, looking down at the jagged rocks and the churning sea hundreds of feet below.”
Usage
Often used as a participial adjective before a noun to describe rapid movement or steep physical drops.
Real-World Examples
“The index more than doubled its value since the start of the year to rise above 9,000 points in mid-June, before plunging to 5,500 within a few weeks.” “For a few days in a row, as he lay on his changing mat, I waggled my fingers above his face before plunging them to the sides of his chest for a tickle.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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