dive-bomb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal; Journalistic; Aerial/Military; Figurative
Quick answer
What does “dive-bomb” mean?
To attack a target by diving steeply toward it in an aircraft and releasing bombs or, by extension, to descend sharply and aggressively toward something or someone.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To attack a target by diving steeply toward it in an aircraft and releasing bombs or, by extension, to descend sharply and aggressively toward something or someone.
To descend or approach something rapidly and aggressively, often with disruptive or startling intent. Also used figuratively to describe sudden, aggressive criticism or a sharp decline in value or quantity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term. The core military sense is identical. American English shows slightly higher frequency in figurative sports and business contexts (e.g., 'dive-bomb the stock market').
Connotations
Similar connotations of sudden, aggressive action. In both, it can carry a slightly humorous or hyperbolic tone when used outside of literal military contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American media, especially in sports commentary (e.g., describing a footballer's or basketball player's rapid move toward the goal).
Grammar
How to Use “dive-bomb” in a Sentence
[Subject] dive-bombs [Target Object] (The plane dive-bombed the bridge).[Subject] dive-bombs into [Location] (The hawk dive-bombed into the water).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dive-bomb” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The vintage Spitfire will dive-bomb the mock target at the airshow.
- My neighbour's cat likes to dive-bomb the birds at the feeder.
American English
- The hawk dove-bombed the field mouse with incredible speed.
- Bad earnings reports caused the tech stock to dive-bomb in after-hours trading.
adverb
British English
- The plane came in dive-bomb style. (Adverbial phrase, rare)
- It fell dive-bomb fast toward the ground. (Informal/Figurative)
American English
- He ran dive-bomb straight into the end zone. (Informal/Figurative)
- The market dropped dive-bomb quick. (Informal/Figurative)
adjective
British English
- The squadron practised dive-bomb manoeuvres over the North Sea. (Attributive use)
- It was a classic dive-bomb attack.
American English
- The pilot executed a perfect dive-bomb run. (Attributive use)
- The team's dive-bomb offense took the defenders by surprise.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Figurative: 'The news caused the company's shares to dive-bomb.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical/military studies discussing tactical bombing.
Everyday
Figurative/Humorous: 'Seagulls started to dive-bomb us for our chips.'
Technical
Military aviation: a specific bombing tactic requiring a steep descent angle.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dive-bomb”
- Using it without an object when meaning is transitive (Incorrect: 'The plane started to dive-bomb.' Correct: '...to dive-bomb the convoy.').
- Misspelling as one word ('divebomb') or two separate words ('dive bomb') when used as a verb.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a verb, it is hyphenated: 'dive-bomb'. The related noun is 'dive-bombing'. They are not written as one solid word.
Yes, it is commonly used figuratively and informally. For example, birds can dive-bomb people for food, or a critic can dive-bomb a new film in a review.
The standard past tense is 'dive-bombed'. In American English, you might also encounter 'dove-bombed' by analogy with 'dove' as the past tense of 'dive', but 'dive-bombed' is more common and universally accepted.
'Dive' simply means to plunge downward. 'Dive-bomb' specifies a purposeful, aggressive descent toward a target, usually to attack or disrupt. All dive-bombing involves diving, but not all diving is dive-bombing.
To attack a target by diving steeply toward it in an aircraft and releasing bombs or, by extension, to descend sharply and aggressively toward something or someone.
Dive-bomb is usually informal; journalistic; aerial/military; figurative in register.
Dive-bomb: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdaɪv bɒm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdaɪv bɑːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To go into a dive-bomb (figurative: to enter a period of rapid, uncontrolled decline).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DIVE-ring BOMB: a bomber plane DIVES like an Olympic diver, then releases a BOMB.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSION IS A PRECIPITOUS DESCENT; CRITICISM IS AN AERIAL ATTACK.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'dive-bomb' MOST likely to be literal?