English Reference
Adjective

plunging

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈpɫəndʒɪŋ/ UK /plˈʌndʒɪŋ/ plung·ing

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.


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.

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.

BBC News· 13 Aug 2026

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.

The Guardian· 8 Sept 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated