noun
nosedive
NOHZ-dyv
Nosedive (noun) means a steep, headfirst drop, whether physical or figurative, such as a sharp fall in price. Example: “Shares of the company took a nosedive after the scandal broke.”
noun
1
A steep, headfirst drop, whether physical or figurative, such as a sharp fall in price.
"Shares of the company took a nosedive after the scandal broke."
"The plane went into a nosedive before the pilot regained control."
verb
1
To drop suddenly and sharply, like an aircraft plunging nose-first.
"Sales nosedived in the final quarter of the year."
How to use nosedive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sudden, steep drop — used literally for planes and figuratively for prices, popularity, or morale.
Common pairings
take a nosedive
prices nosedived
go into a nosedive
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like nosedive.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- nosedives
- Third person singular
- nosedives
- Past tense
- nosedived, nosedove
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Shares of the company took a _____ after the scandal broke.
Etymology
A compound of nose + dive, first used for an aircraft plunging nose-first toward the ground.
Synonyms
View more →
dive
nose dive
Related words
Rhymes for nosedive
See all rhymes for nosedive →Frequently asked questions
What does “nosedive” mean?
The word “nosedive” means a steep, headfirst drop, whether physical or figurative, such as a sharp fall in price. In plain terms, a sudden, steep drop — used literally for planes and figuratively for prices, popularity, or morale.
How do you pronounce “nosedive”?
“Nosedive” is pronounced NOHZ-dyv (/ˈnəʊzdaɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “nosedive” in a sentence?
Here is “nosedive” used in a sentence: “Shares of the company took a nosedive after the scandal broke.”
What part of speech is “nosedive”?
Depending on how it is used, “nosedive” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “nosedive” have?
“Nosedive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a steep, headfirst drop, whether physical or figurative, such as a sharp fall in price.
