A plunge can mean a sudden drop or dive into water, like when you jump off a cliff and splash down into a pool. On the other hand, it can also refer to taking action without thinking about the consequences, like when someone plunges headfirst into a new business venture.
When we use the word "plunge" in everyday conversations, we often talk about doing something sudden or unexpected. For example, if you decide on a whim to quit your job and start traveling around the world, people might say you've taken a plunge – that is, you've jumped into an adventure without knowing what's ahead. In other cases, "plunge" can describe how something moves through space – for instance, a plane plunges downward as it descends onto a runway, or a river plummets over a waterfall.
How common is "plunge"?
Word plunge is considered uncommon in modern English. It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
noun
The act of plunging or submerging
A dive, leap, rush, or pitch into (into water)
Example: A plunge into the sea
A swimming pool
The act of pitching or throwing oneself headlong or violently forward, like an unruly horse
Heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous speculation
An immersion in difficulty, embarrassment, or distress; the condition of being surrounded or overwhelmed; a strait; difficulty
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verb
To thrust into liquid, or into any penetrable substance; to immerse.
Example: to plunge the body into water
To cast, stab or throw into some thing, state, condition or action.
Example: to plunge a dagger into the breast; to plunge a nation into war
To baptize by immersion.
To dive, leap or rush (into water or some liquid); to submerge oneself.
Example: he plunged into the river
To fall or rush headlong into some thing, action, state or condition.
Example: to plunge into debt; to plunge into controversy
To pitch or throw oneself headlong or violently forward, as a horse does.
To bet heavily and recklessly; to risk large sums in gambling.
To entangle or embarrass (mostly used in past participle).
To overwhelm, overpower.
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Real examples of "plunge" in context
Real-world video examples for this word are still being added.
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