# plunge

> English word · Verb · IPA /plʌnd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #15,246

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

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **Pune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plunge-vs-pune)
- **purge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plunge-vs-purge)
- **prune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plunge-vs-prune)
- **pounce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plunge-vs-pounce)
- **plunged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plunge-vs-plunged)
- **plunger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plunge-vs-plunger)
- **plunges** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plunge-vs-plunges)
- **plug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plug-vs-plunge)
- **plane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plane-vs-plunge)
- **plugs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plugs-vs-plunge)
- **plume** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plume-vs-plunge)
- **pledge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pledge-vs-plunge)
- **plugged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plugged-vs-plunge)
- **plunder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plunder-vs-plunge)
- **plumage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumage-vs-plunge)

## Common misspellings (9)
`lpunge`, `pllunge`, `plnuge`, `plugne`, `pluneg`, `plungge`, `plunnge`, `pplunge`, `pulnge`

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