plunge
/plʌndʒ/- 1.
To jump or fall suddenly and with force into something, especially water. The movement is quick, dramatic, and often downward.
- She plunged into the river to rescue the child.
- He slipped on the edge and plunged into the pool.
- The waterfall plunges sixty metres into the valley below.
- 2.
To suddenly enter a difficult situation, or to push something deep into a substance. It can also mean to start doing something quickly and without much preparation.
- The blackout plunged the entire city into darkness.
- She plunged into the new project with great energy.
- He plunged the knife deep into the loaf of bread.
A sudden and fast jump, dive, or drop. In business and news English, it commonly describes a sharp fall in prices, temperatures, or levels.
- Oil prices saw a dramatic plunge of 15% last week.
- He took a cold plunge in the ocean every morning.
- The plunge in demand shocked the whole industry.
Adinary Nuance
Plunge sits between dip and plummet in force and drama. Dip is a small, gentle, brief movement — a dip in prices is minor and recoverable. Plummet is a fast, uncontrolled fall that implies no recovery; you'd say a failing company's shares plummeted, not that they merely plunged. Dive usually implies more control and intent — a swimmer dives with skill, but a person can plunge accidentally or boldly. The key advantage of plunge over its neighbors is flexibility: it works for physical actions, financial data, emotional states, and that uniquely human phrase — taking the plunge.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lao vào
- Spanish
- zambullirse
- Chinese
- 跳入
- Japanese
- 飛び込む
- Korean
- 뛰어들다
Etymology
From Old French "plongier," derived from Vulgar Latin *plumbicare, rooted in Latin "plumbum" (lead) — a reference to the weight of a lead sinker dropping into water. The word entered English in the late 14th century.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What does 'take the plunge' mean?
- 'Take the plunge' means to finally do something risky or scary that you have been avoiding. For example: 'After months of hesitation, he took the plunge and quit his job to start a business.'
- What is the difference between 'plunge' and 'dive'?
- 'Dive' usually suggests a controlled, intentional action — a swimmer dives with skill. 'Plunge' feels more sudden and forceful, and it fits both physical drops and figurative situations like falling prices. In most contexts they overlap, but 'plunge' carries more drama.
- Can I use 'plunge' in IELTS or academic writing?
- Yes, 'plunge' is neutral in register and widely used in formal writing, especially in economics, journalism, and academic essays. Phrases like 'prices plunged' or 'the region was plunged into conflict' are natural and effective in Task 1 and Task 2 responses.
- Can 'plunge' describe emotions or abstract things?
- Yes. You can say someone 'plunged into despair' or a country was 'plunged into uncertainty.' This figurative use is very common in both academic and news English and is safe to use in formal writing.