plunge

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /plʌnd͡ʒ/ See IPA manual

Freq #12423

Meanings

1

verb
To jump or dive suddenly into water or a deep place.

He plunged into the cold river to cool off.
2

verb
To fall or drop suddenly and steeply.

The stock market plunged after the bad news.
3

verb
To push something deep into something else.

She plunged the knife into the thick cake.
4

verb
To suddenly enter a difficult state or situation.

The country plunged into chaos after the election.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to fall or drop suddenly... dive dump

4 verb · to suddenly enter a... slump

Word family

Forms plungedplungesplunging

Derived forms implungeplungeablereplungeunplungeunplunged

Appears in

Idioms (1)

See all

take the plunge
to make a bold commitment after a period of hesitation

Simplified etymology

Plunge entered English in late Middle English from Old French plungier “to thrust down,” which ultimately derives from Latin plumbum “lead.”

Etymology

From Middle English plungen, ploungen, Anglo-Norman plungier, from Old French plongier, (Modern French plonger), from unattested Late Latin frequentative *plumbicō (“to throw a leaded line”), from plumbum (“lead”). Compare plumb, plounce.

plungen Middle English plungier xno plongier Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# plunge

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /plʌnd͡ʒ/
**Frequency rank:** 12423

## Meanings
1. To jump or dive suddenly into water or a deep place.
2. To fall or drop suddenly and steeply.
3. To push something deep into something else.
4. To suddenly enter a difficult state or situation.

## Examples
- He plunged into the cold river to cool off.
- The stock market plunged after the bad news.
- She plunged the knife into the thick cake.
- The country plunged into chaos after the election.

## Derived Forms
- implunge
- plungeable
- replunge
- unplunge
- unplunged

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: plungen
- Root: plungier
- Root: plongier

## Etymology
From Middle English plungen, ploungen, Anglo-Norman plungier, from Old French plongier, (Modern French plonger), from unattested Late Latin frequentative *plumbicō (“to throw a leaded line”), from plumbum (“lead”). Compare plumb, plounce.

## AI Etymology
Plunge is from Middle English plungen, ploungen, Anglo-Norman plungier, from Old French plongier, (Modern French plonger), from unattested Late Latin frequentative *plumbicō (“to throw a leaded line”), from plumbum (“lead”). Compare plumb, plounce. In present-day use, it can mean to jump or dive suddenly into water or a deep place, or to fall or drop suddenly and steeply. Derived formations include implunge, plungeable, replunge, unplunge, and unplunged.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

markdown