dive
dyv
Dive (verb) means to plunge headfirst into water. Example: “The children dive into the pool as soon as the lifeguard blows the whistle.”
verb
1
To plunge headfirst into water.
"The children dive into the pool as soon as the lifeguard blows the whistle."
"She dived gracefully from the rocks into the clear blue sea."
"He dove off the high board without hesitation."
2
To drop or descend sharply and quickly.
"Temperatures dive overnight when the clouds clear and the wind drops."
"The hawk dove toward its prey."
"Stock prices dove after the announcement."
noun
1
A cheap, run-down bar or club.
"The band played in a smoky dive with sticky floors and cheap beer."
"It looks like a dive from outside, but the music inside is great."
"They spent the night at a dive near the docks."
How to use dive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo plunge into water or drop suddenly — or, as a noun, a scruffy but often charming bar.
Common pairings
dive into the pool
take a dive
dive bar
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Word forms
- Plural
- dives
- Third person singular
- dives
- Past tense
- dived, dove, doven, diven
- Archaic forms
- divest, divedst, diveth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children _____ into the pool as soon as the lifeguard blows the whistle.
Etymology
From Old English dȳfan ("to dip") merging with dūfan ("to sink or duck"), both from a Germanic root related to deep and dip.
Related words
Rhymes for dive
See all rhymes for dive →Frequently asked questions
What does “dive” mean?
The word “dive” means to plunge headfirst into water. In plain terms, to plunge into water or drop suddenly — or, as a noun, a scruffy but often charming bar.
How do you pronounce “dive”?
“Dive” is pronounced dyv (/daɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “dive” in a sentence?
Here is “dive” used in a sentence: “They spent the night at a dive near the docks.”
What part of speech is “dive”?
Depending on how it is used, “dive” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “dive” come from?
The word “dive” comes from Old English. From Old English dȳfan ("to dip") merging with dūfan ("to sink or duck"), both from a Germanic root related to deep and dip.
Is “dive” a common word?
“Dive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “dive” have?
“Dive” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to plunge headfirst into water.
What is the difference between dive and jump?
To dive is to plunge headfirst into water, leading with the head and arms in a controlled way. To jump is to leap using the legs and usually to enter feet-first, so the key difference is body position and which part enters first.
Is the past tense of dive dived or dove?
Both dived and dove are correct. Dived is the traditional standard form used widely in British English, while dove is common in American English, and both are accepted.
What is the difference between dive and plunge?
Dive and plunge both describe a sharp downward movement, and in the sense of dropping quickly they overlap, as in prices that dive or plunge. Dive additionally has the specific meaning of plunging headfirst into water, which plunge does not require.
