plunge
gb/plˈʌnd͡ʒ/ us/plˈʌnd͡ʒ/
B1
English
~ 6400
beleveti magát, beleugrik, belezuhan, zuhan, bezuhan, meredeken csökken, belemerül, nekilát, taszít, juttat, sodor, beledöf, belenyom, beleszúr, zuhanás, ugrás, visszaesés, meredek csökkenés
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
to plunge into [liquid/place]
She took a deep breath and plunged into the icy lake.
Mély levegőt vett, és belevetette magát a jeges tóba.
The car skidded on the ice and plunged into the ditch.
Az autó megcsúszott a jégen, és belezuhant az árokba.
Huge waves crashed as the cliff collapsed and rocks plunged into the ocean.
He closed his eyes and plunged off the diving board.
The elevator suddenly failed and plunged several floors before stopping.
Learner examples
The children laughed and plunged into the pool.
A gyerekek nevetve beugrottak a medencébe.
I closed my eyes and plunged into the cold water.
Lehunytam a szemem, és belevetettem magam a hideg vízbe.
The bus went off the road and plunged into the river.
He ran to the edge and plunged into the lake.
The rock broke loose and plunged down the hill.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "plunge" instead of "dive" in calm, controlled swimming situations. "Plunge" usually suggests a more sudden, forceful, or dramatic movement than a normal swim. Also, do not say *"plunge to the water"*; use "plunge into the water."
Meaning
jump or fall quickly into liquid
Collocations
plunge into the water
|plunge into the river
|plunge into the sea
|plunge off the cliff
|plunge to the ground
Synonyms
dive (often suggests a controlled, usually headfirst jump into water, while plunge can be more sudden or uncontrolled.)
|
fall (more general and less vivid; does not always suggest entering water or a specific destination.)
Antonyms
rise (describes upward movement instead of sudden downward movement.)
|
float (suggests staying on the surface of water rather than moving down into it.)
Themes
movement
|sports
|nature
|daily_life
Definition
to jump or fall quickly from a higher place into water or another liquid
To move or fall suddenly and quickly from a higher place into water, another liquid, or empty space, often with force.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to plunge from [amount] to [amount]
Share prices plunged after the company issued a profit warning.
A részvényárfolyamok zuhantak, miután a vállalat figyelmeztetett, hogy a nyeresége elmarad a várttól.
Temperatures are expected to plunge below freezing tonight.
A hőmérséklet várhatóan fagypont alá zuhan ma éjjel.
The value of the currency plunged against the dollar.
Visitor numbers plunged during the pandemic.
His confidence plunged when he read the test results.
Learner examples
Oil prices plunged last week.
Az olajárak a múlt héten zuhantak.
Sales plunged in the winter months.
A téli hónapokban zuhantak az eladások.
The temperature plunged during the night.
Her income plunged after she lost her job.
The number of tourists plunged in 2020.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"plunge down"* with numbers (e.g. *"prices plunged down"*). In this sense, "plunge" is intransitive and does not need "down": simply say "prices plunged" or "prices plunged to $5". Also, "plunge" usually describes large and sudden changes, not small or slow ones.
Meaning
prices or amounts drop fast
Collocations
prices plunged
|plunge in value
|plunge in prices
|plunge by 50 percent
|plunge to a record low
Synonyms
plummet (slightly stronger and more dramatic; often used in news headlines.)
|
drop sharply (a more neutral two-word alternative often used in explanations and reports.)
Antonyms
soar (describes a sudden large increase instead of a sudden large decrease.)
|
rise steadily (suggests a gradual upward change, the opposite direction and speed of a plunge.)
Themes
business
|statistics
|weather
|finance
Definition
to go down very fast and by a big amount, like prices or numbers
To fall or decrease suddenly and by a large amount, especially about numbers, prices, or levels.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to plunge into [activity]
After a short break, she plunged into her new job with enthusiasm.
Egy rövid szünet után lelkesen belevetette magát az új munkájába.
The students immediately plunged into group discussions.
A diákok azonnal belevetették magukat a csoportos megbeszélésekbe.
He likes to plunge into a book and forget everything around him.
They plunged into preparations for the festival.
Without introduction, the speaker plunged into the main topic.
Learner examples
She went home and plunged into her homework.
Hazament, és belevetette magát a házi feladatába.
He finished lunch and plunged into the report.
Befejezte az ebédet, és belevetette magát a jelentés elkészítésébe.
The class plunged into a long discussion.
When I get a new game, I plunge into it for hours.
After the holiday, we plunged into work again.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the physical meaning and add a place instead of an activity, for example *"plunge into the office"* when they mean starting work. For an activity, use a noun like "work," "research," or "discussion" after "plunge into."
Meaning
start something quickly and eagerly
Collocations
plunge into work
|plunge into a project
|plunge into conversation
|plunge into research
|plunge into study
Synonyms
dive into (very close in meaning; slightly more informal and friendly in tone.)
|
throw oneself into (emphasizes strong personal effort and commitment.)
Antonyms
hold back (suggests being cautious and not starting fully or quickly.)
|
ease into (describes starting something slowly and gently instead of suddenly.)
Themes
work
|education
|daily_life
Definition
to begin an activity suddenly and with a lot of energy
To start doing something, especially a difficult or time-consuming activity, in a very direct, quick, and energetic way.
VERB
C1
4
Usage pattern:
to plunge [someone/something] into [state]
The scandal plunged the government into crisis.
A botrány válságba sodorta a kormányt.
The announcement plunged employees into uncertainty and fear.
A bejelentés bizonytalanságba és félelembe taszította a dolgozókat.
A power cut plunged the entire city into darkness.
The sudden death of her father plunged her into deep depression.
The war has plunged the region into chaos.
Learner examples
The news plunged her into sadness.
A hír mély szomorúságba taszította.
The accident plunged the family into debt.
A baleset adósságba sodorta a családot.
The blackout plunged the street into darkness.
The decision plunged the company into trouble.
The loss of his job plunged him into worry.
Common mistake:
Learners may forget the preposition and say *"plunge him despair"* instead of "plunge him into despair." In this sense, the pattern is almost always "plunge [someone/something] into [state]."
Meaning
push into difficulty or darkness
Collocations
plunge the country into chaos
|plunge millions into poverty
|plunge the room into darkness
|plunge her into despair
|plunge the region into crisis
Synonyms
throw (in phrases like "throw into chaos"; similar but slightly less vivid and dramatic than "plunge.")
|
push (more general verb; less strong and less sudden than "plunge.")
Antonyms
lift (as in "lift out of poverty"; suggests removing someone from a bad state.)
|
bring out of (describes helping someone leave a bad or difficult condition.)
Themes
emotions
|politics
|news
|core_vocabulary
Definition
to make someone or something go suddenly into a very bad or difficult situation
To cause a person, group, or place to be in a very bad, difficult, or extreme state suddenly.
VERB
B2
5
Usage pattern:
to plunge [object] into [substance/body]
He plunged the knife into the wooden table in anger.
Dühében beledöfte a kést a faasztalba.
The doctor plunged the needle into his arm.
Az orvos beleszúrta a tűt a beteg karjába.
She plunged the thermometer into the water to check its temperature.
He plunged his hands into his pockets to keep them warm.
The chef plunged the vegetables into boiling water for a minute.
Learner examples
He plunged the knife into the fruit.
Beleszúrta a kést a gyümölcsbe.
She plunged the spoon into the soup.
Belemártotta a kanalat a levesbe.
The nurse plunged the needle into my arm.
I plunged my hands into the warm sand.
She plunged the brush into the paint.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with simply "put" or "place." "Plunge" suggests a faster, deeper, or stronger movement. For gentle actions, say "put the spoon in" rather than "plunge the spoon in."
Meaning
push something deep into something
Collocations
plunge the knife into
|plunge the thermometer into
|plunge his hands into
|plunge the probe into
|plunge the spoon into
Synonyms
thrust (focuses more on the strong pushing action, often used with weapons like knives or swords.)
|
jab (suggests a quicker, shorter push, often repeated or less deep.)
Antonyms
withdraw (means to pull something out after it has been pushed in.)
|
pull out (everyday phrase for removing something that was inside.)
Themes
violence
|cooking
|science
|daily_life
|work
Definition
to push something in fast and deep, for example a knife into something
To push or thrust something, especially a tool or sharp object, quickly and deeply into something else.
NOUN
B2
6
Usage pattern:
a plunge into [liquid/place]
With a shout, he took a plunge into the lake.
Egy kiáltással belevetette magát a tóba.
The car ended its long plunge in a river at the bottom of the valley.
A völgy alján a folyóban ért véget az autó hosszú zuhanása.
One wrong step could send you on a deadly plunge down the mountain.
After a quick plunge in the cold sea, they ran back to the beach.
The roller coaster begins with a 60‑meter plunge.
Learner examples
He took a plunge into the pool.
Beugrott a medencébe.
The ride starts with a big plunge.
Az attrakció egy nagy zuhanással kezdődik.
They enjoyed a quick plunge in the sea.
The car went over the edge in a terrible plunge.
I woke up with a start, as if after a long plunge in a dream.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "plunge" alone to mean "short swim" in all contexts. While "a plunge" can mean a quick swim, it usually still involves the idea of a sudden entry into the water. In more neutral situations, "swim" or "go for a swim" is more common.
Meaning
sudden dive or fall
Collocations
take a plunge
|a headlong plunge
|a steep plunge
|a plunge into the water
|a plunge off the cliff
Synonyms
dive (often used for a controlled jump into water; "plunge" can describe a more uncontrolled or dramatic fall.)
|
drop (more general and less vivid; does not necessarily involve water.)
Antonyms
ascent (refers to going upward instead of moving or falling downward.)
Themes
movement
|accidents
|sports
|travel
Definition
a quick, sudden dive or fall down, often into water
A sudden and often steep movement downwards, especially into water or from a height.
NOUN
B2
7
Usage pattern:
a plunge in [price/number]
The company reported a sharp plunge in profits last quarter.
A vállalat a nyereség meredek visszaeséséről számolt be az előző negyedévben.
There has been a dramatic plunge in birth rates in recent years.
Az utóbbi években drámai visszaesés volt tapasztalható a születési rátában.
Investors are worried about another plunge in housing prices.
The weekend brought a sudden plunge in temperatures.
After a brief plunge in sales, the market began to recover.
Learner examples
We saw a big plunge in sales last month.
A múlt hónapban nagy visszaesést tapasztaltunk az eladásokban.
There was a plunge in the number of visitors.
Nagy visszaesés volt a látogatók számában.
The chart shows a plunge in prices in 2022.
The country experienced a plunge in exports.
A sudden plunge in temperature surprised everyone.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "plunge" for any small fall in numbers. This noun is best used when the decrease is clearly large and often sudden. For smaller or slower changes, "a slight fall" or "a small drop" is more natural.
Meaning
sudden fall in value or level
Collocations
a plunge in prices
|a plunge in profits
|a plunge in sales
|a plunge in value
|a plunge in temperature
Synonyms
drop (more general; can describe both small and large decreases, while "plunge" suggests a big one.)
|
slump (often used for financial or economic decreases over a period of time; may sound slightly less sudden than "plunge.")
Antonyms
surge (describes a sudden strong increase instead of a sudden decrease.)
|
rise (general opposite direction of change; not necessarily sudden.)
Themes
business
|statistics
|finance
Definition
a big, fast drop in price, number, or level
A sudden and often large decrease in amount, price, level, or quality.
Grammar
Dictionary form
plunge
IPA
GB/plˈʌnd͡ʒ/
US/plˈʌnd͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
plunge (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (plunge)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: plunge
Verb
- Base: plunge
- 3rd Person Singular: plunges
- Present Participle: plunging
- Past: plunged
Word family
Forms
plunges
verb
plunging
verb
plunged
verb
Related words
plunger
noun
Expressions
plunge in
1/plˈʌnd͡ʒ ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
start suddenly without planning
to start doing something or talking suddenly, without waiting or planning first
Examples
- Before the teacher finished the instructions, everyone plunged in.
- He tends to plunge in and fix problems before anyone asks.
- Don't just plunge in; read the manual first.
plunge in value
1/plˈʌnd͡ʒ ˈɪn vˈælju/
fixed phrase
value decreases suddenly and a lot
used to say that the price or worth of something goes down very fast and by a large amount
Examples
- The company's shares plunged in value after the scandal.
- If house prices plunge in value, many owners could owe more than their homes are worth.
plunge into
1/plˈʌnd͡ʒ ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
begin something quickly and energetically
to start doing something, often hard or serious, very quickly and with a lot of energy
Examples
- As soon as the meeting ended, she plunged into the next task.
- Students plunged into their group projects without waiting for more instructions.
- He likes to plunge into new hobbies and learn as much as he can.
plunge to one's death
1/plˈʌnd͡ʒ tə wˈʌnz dˈɛθ/
fixed phrase
die by falling from height
to die after falling from a high place
Examples
- The climber slipped on the ice and plunged to his death.
- Two passengers plunged to their deaths when the bridge collapsed.
take the plunge
1/tˈeɪk ðə plˈʌnd͡ʒ/
idiom
decide on a big risky step
to finally decide to do something big or risky, especially after thinking about it for a long time
Examples
- After years of talking about it, they finally took the plunge and moved abroad.
- I'm thinking of taking the plunge and starting my own business.
- She took the plunge and asked her boss for a promotion.