(~s, plunging, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If something or someone ~s in a particular direction, especially into water, they fall, rush, or throw themselves in that direction.
At least 50 people died when a bus ~d into a river...
VERB: V prep/adv
•
Plunge is also a noun.
...a ~ into cold water.
N-COUNT: usu sing
2.
If you ~ an object into something, you push it quickly or violently into it.
A soldier ~d a bayonet into his body...
I ~d in my knife and fork.
VERB: V n into n, V n with in
3.
If a person or thing is ~d into a particular state or situation, or if they ~ into it, they are suddenly in that state or situation.
The government’s political and economic reforms threaten to ~ the country into chaos...
Eddy finds himself ~d into a world of brutal violence...
The economy is plunging into recession.
VERB: V n into n, V-ed, V into n
•
Plunge is also a noun.
That peace often looked like a brief truce before the next ~ into war.
N-COUNT: usu sing, N into n
4.
If you ~ into an activity or are ~d into it, you suddenly get very involved in it.
The two men ~d into discussion...
The prince should be ~d into work...
Take the opportunity to ~ yourself into your career.
VERB: V into n, be V-ed into n, V pron-refl into n
•
Plunge is also a noun.
His sudden ~ into the field of international diplomacy is a major surprise.
N-COUNT: usu sing, N into n
5.
If an amount or rate ~s, it decreases quickly and suddenly.
His weight began to ~...
The Pound ~d to a new low on the foreign exchange markets yesterday...
Shares have ~d from ?17 to ?7.55...
The bank’s profits ~d by 87 per cent...
Its net profits ~d 73% last year.
= plummet
VERB: V, V to n, V from/to amount, V by amount, V amount
•
Plunge is also a noun.
Japan’s banks are in trouble because of bad loans and the stock market ~.
N-COUNT
6.
see also plunging
7.
If you take the ~, you decide to do something that you consider difficult or risky.
If you have been thinking about buying shares, now could be the time to take the ~.
PHRASE: V inflects