Definition

1. Noun:

   • A steep and rapid fall or descent: A sudden, quick movement downwards.
   • A brief, energetic swim: The act of entering water quickly and energetically for a short swim.

2. Verb:

   • To fall or move suddenly and quickly downwards or forwards: To drop or descend sharply and with force.
   • To thrust or force something quickly and forcefully into something else: To cause something to enter a substance or place with a sudden movement.
   • To begin or enter into a state, activity, or condition with great energy or force: To involve oneself deeply and suddenly in something.
   • To decrease sharply and suddenly in amount or value: To fall steeply.

Usage

• As a noun: Use "plunge" to describe a sudden fall or a quick swim.
• As a verb: Use "plunge" to describe a sudden downward movement, a forceful thrusting action, a deep commitment to an activity, or a sharp decline.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The car's sudden plunge over the cliff was terrifying.
  • She took a quick plunge in the lake to cool off.

• Verb:

  • The eagle plunged from the sky to catch its prey.
  • He plunged the knife into the wood.
  • She decided to plunge into the new project with enthusiasm.
  • Stock prices plunged after the company's poor earnings report.

Advanced Usage

• "to take the plunge": To decide to do something important, difficult, or risky after hesitation.

  • After years of dating, they finally took the plunge and got married.

• "plunge into darkness/silence": To suddenly become dark or silent.

  • The city plunged into darkness during the power outage.

• "plunge in": To start doing something with energy and without hesitation.

  • Don't overthink it, just plunge in and start writing.

Variants and Related Words

• Plunger (n): A device with a rubber cup on a handle, used to clear blocked pipes by a plunging action.
  • He used a plunger to fix the clogged toilet.

Synonyms

• Noun: Drop, fall, dive, descent.
• Verb: Dive, plummet, drop, immerse, thrust, submerge, begin, embark.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Plunge into: To start doing something with great energy or to enter a state suddenly.

  • He plunged into his work after the holiday.
  • The country plunged into chaos.

• Plunge down: To fall or drop steeply.

  • The path plunges down to the valley below.

Related Idioms

• Plunge to one's death: To fall from a great height and die.

  • The climber slipped and plunged to his death.

• Plunge the knife in (figurative): To say or do something very hurtful.

  • By revealing the secret, she really plunged the knife in.

Noun

1. a steep and rapid fall
2. a brief swim in water

Verb

1. devote (oneself) fully to
   • He immersed himself into his studies
2. immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
   • dip the garment into the cleaning solution
   • dip the brush into the paint
3. fall abruptly
   • It plunged to the bottom of the well
4. cause to be immersed
   • The professor plunged his students into the study of the Italian text
5. begin with vigor
   • He launched into a long diatribe
   • She plunged into a dangerous adventure
6. dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity
   • She plunged at it eagerly
7. drop steeply
   • the stock market plunged
8. thrust or throw into
   • Immerse yourself in hot water