plunge

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To thrust into liquid, or into any penetrable substance; to immerse.
2. (figuratively, transitive) To cast, stab or throw deep and fast into some thing, state, condition or action.
3. (obsolete, transitive) To baptize by immersion.
4. (intransitive) To dive, leap or rush (into water or some liquid); to submerge oneself.
5. (figuratively, intransitive) To fall or rush headlong into some thing, action, state or condition.
6. (intransitive) To pitch or throw oneself headlong or violently forward, as a horse does.
7. (intransitive, slang) To bet heavily and recklessly; to risk large sums in gambling.
8. (intransitive, obsolete) To entangle or embarrass (mostly used in past participle).
9. (intransitive, obsolete) To overwhelm, overpower.

Noun

1. The act of plunging or submerging.
2. A dive, leap, rush, or pitch into (into water).
3. (dated) A swimming pool.
4. (figuratively) The act of pitching or throwing oneself headlong or violently forward, like an unruly horse.
5. (slang) Heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous speculation.
6. (obsolete) An immersion in difficulty, embarrassment, or distress; the condition of being surrounded or overwhelmed; a strait; difficulty.

Synonyms

dive

dip

sink

immerse

submerge

fall

jump

dunk

souse

drop

douse

submerse

plummet

duck

🦆

rush

lunge

leap

nosedive

spring

steep

thrust

stick

soak

plunk

dig

engross

launch

absorb

crash

topple

tumble

submersion

swoop

go down

diving

soak up

disembark

overthrow

pitch

ram

🐏

splash

engulf

merge

dump

dash

💨

drown

drop down

droop

cram

bound

Translations

plonger

immergere

duiken

mergulhar

tuffarsi

zambullirse

zambullir

eintauchen

sumergir

tauchen

bucear

tuffare

tuffo

βουτώ

plongeon

Pronounced as (IPA)

/plʌnd͡ʒ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: plungen

In summary

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.