plummet
C1Formal/Informal (more common in journalism and business)
Definition
Meaning
to fall or drop straight down very quickly and steeply.
To decrease rapidly in amount, value, or quality; to plunge.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Verb only. Implies a steep, rapid, and often uncontrolled descent or decline. Rarely used as a noun in modern English (referring to a plumb line/weight).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. Both use it primarily as a verb.
Connotations
Identical. Conveys severity and speed of decline.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties in news and business contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + plummetSubject + plummet + from X to YSubject + plummet + by (amount/percentage)Subject + plummet + to (a new low)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to take a plummet (rare, archaic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common: 'Company profits plummeted after the scandal.'
Academic
Used in economics, environmental science: 'Bird populations have plummeted in the last decade.'
Everyday
Less frequent, but possible: 'My phone's battery plummets when it's cold.'
Technical
In aviation (informally for rapid descent), finance, meteorology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- House prices in the southeast could plummet if interest rates rise.
- The football club's fortunes plummeted after the star player was injured.
American English
- The stock market plummeted 500 points on the bad news.
- Temperatures are expected to plummet below freezing tonight.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjectival use.
American English
- No standard adjectival use.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The apple plummeted from the tree.
- After the news, the company's shares plummeted.
- The bird plummeted towards the water.
- Consumer confidence has plummeted to a record low this quarter.
- The plane's altitude plummeted during the storm.
- The currency's value plummeted overnight, triggering an economic crisis.
- Approval ratings for the policy have plummeted among key voter demographics.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PLUM with a heavy MET(al) weight attached—it would fall straight down very fast.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECREASE/DOWNWARD MOVEMENT IS A RAPID, VERTICAL FALL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'пламя' (flame). Think 'падать камнем' or 'стремительно падать'. Not a direct translation for 'снижаться' (to decrease) which is more neutral.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for slow decline (e.g., 'The price plummeted slowly').
- Using as a noun incorrectly (e.g., 'There was a big plummet in sales' – better: 'a sharp fall').
- Misspelling as 'plumit'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'plummet' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Overwhelmingly yes, as it describes a rapid fall or decline, which is usually negative. It would be unusual to use it for a positive decrease (e.g., 'pollution plummeted' is positive in outcome but describes a negative thing decreasing).
They are very close synonyms. 'Plummet' often emphasises a more vertical, gravity-like straight-down fall (from its origin as a weight on a line). 'Plunge' can suggest a more forceful or sudden thrust into something (e.g., plunge into water, plunge a knife). In figurative use (prices, etc.), they are often interchangeable.
Very rarely in modern English. Its primary noun meaning is the weight on a plumb line (a plumb bob). While you might see 'take a plummet' meaning to fall, it's archaic. In contemporary writing, use 'a sharp fall', 'a plunge', or 'a nosedive' instead.
It is standard and acceptable in both formal and informal contexts, but it is particularly prevalent in journalism, business, and academic writing where dramatic changes are reported. In casual speech, people might opt for 'drop really fast' or 'crash'.