# dive

> English word · Verb · IPA /daɪv/ · frequency rank #5,875

## Definitions
1. To swim under water.
2. To jump into water head-first.
3. To jump headfirst toward the ground or into another substance.
4. To descend sharply or steeply.
5. To lose altitude quickly by pointing downwards, as with a bird or aircraft.
6. To undertake with enthusiasm.
7. To deliberately fall down after a challenge, imitating being fouled, in the hope of getting one's opponent penalised.
8. To leap while fielding to take a brilliant catch which usually results in a wicket and appreciation.
9. To cause to descend, dunk; to plunge something into water.
10. To explore by diving; to plunge into.
11. To plunge or to go deeply into any subject, question, business, etc.; to penetrate; to explore.

## Etymology
From Middle English diven, duven, from the merger of Old English dȳfan (“to dip, immerse”, transitive weak verb) (from Proto-Germanic *dūbijaną) and dūfan (“to duck, dive, sink, penetrate”, intransitive strong verb) (past participle ġedofen). Cognate with Icelandic dýfa (“to dip, dive”), Low German bedaven (“covered, covered with water”). See also deep, dip.

## Easily confused with
- **DV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dv)
- **due** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-due)
- **DVD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dvd)
- **doe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-doe)
- **dye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dye)
- **DIY** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-diy)
- **Dre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dre)
- **DMV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dmv)
- **Dix** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dix)
- **done** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-done)
- **dude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dude)
- **duke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-duke)
- **dose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dose)
- **dome** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dome)
- **dope** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dope)
- **dove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dove)
- **dyke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dyke)
- **dole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dole)
- **dune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-dune)
- **doge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-doge)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ddive`, `diev`, `divve`, `dvie`, `idve`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dive