Meaning & use
dive
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To jump headfirst into water, usually with your arms stretched forward.
Grammar: No object; you dive into water or dive off something.
Patterns
- dive into something
- dive off something
- dive from something
She dived into the pool and swam to the other side.
He dived off the rock into the clear blue sea.
The children were diving from the low board all afternoon.
verbintransitive
To go down suddenly and steeply, especially of an aircraft, bird, or fish.
Grammar: No object; often used with 'down' or 'into'.
Patterns
- dive down
- dive into something
- dive for cover
The plane dived sharply to avoid the mountain.
The hawk dived toward the field and caught a mouse.
When the shooting started, everyone dived for cover.
verbintransitive
To move quickly and suddenly downward or forward, often to avoid something.
Grammar: No object; often followed by 'under', 'behind', or 'into'.
Patterns
- dive under something
- dive behind something
- dive into something
She dived under the table when the earthquake began.
He dived behind the sofa to hide from his sister.
The goalkeeper dived to the left and saved the ball.
verbintransitivebusinessfinance
To become much lower in value or amount very quickly.
Grammar: No object; often used for prices, profits, or temperatures.
Patterns
- dive sharply
- dive to something
- dive by a percentage
Share prices dived after the bad news.
The temperature dived to minus ten overnight.
Sales dived by thirty percent in the last quarter.
nouncountable
A sudden steep fall or drop.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or 'the'.
Patterns
- a dive in something
- take a dive
- a sharp dive
There was a sharp dive in oil prices last month.
The bird made a sudden dive toward the water.
The team's performance took a dive after the captain was injured.
nouncountableinformaldisapproving
A shabby, dirty, or disreputable bar or club.
Grammar: Countable and informal; often used with 'a' or 'some'.
Patterns
- a real dive
- a bit of a dive
- drink in a dive
They ended up in a noisy dive on the corner.
The hotel turned out to be a real dive.
He used to play piano in a dive downtown.
Word forms
| third person singular | dives |
|---|---|
| past tense | dived |
| past participle | dived |
| -ing form | diving |
| plural | dives |
Common combinations
- dive into water
- She dived into the water without hesitation.
- dive for cover
- The soldiers dived for cover when the shelling started.
- take a dive
- The stock market took a dive after the announcement.
- a dive bar
- We met at a dive bar near the station.
- dive sharply
- The company's profits dived sharply last year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- plunge
- To fall or move down suddenly and with force; it is more dramatic and often used for prices or temperatures, while 'dive' is more general and can also mean jumping into water.
- leap
- To jump, often upward or forward; 'leap' does not carry the downward sense that 'dive' usually has.
- drop
- A more neutral word for going down; 'drop' can be gradual or sudden, while 'dive' suggests a quick, steep fall.
Opposites
Word family
- diver noun
- A person who dives, especially as a sport or job.
- diving noun
- The sport or activity of jumping into water.
Commonly confused: dive or drive?
dive vs drive
To drive is to operate a vehicle. To dive is to jump into water or fall suddenly. They sound similar but have very different meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'dive' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Dive' is intransitive when it means jumping into water, so it does not take a direct object. 'He dived into the pool' is correct. The other sentences incorrectly use a direct object after 'dived'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dive”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.