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dive

\ ˈdīv

How to pronounce dive (audio)

\

dived\ ˈdīvd

How to pronounce dive (audio)

\ or dove\ ˈdōv

How to pronounce dive (audio)

\; dived also dove; diving

Definition of dive

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to plunge into water intentionally and especially headfirst also : to execute a dive (see dive entry 2 sense 1a(1)) diving into the pool from the highest platform

b : submerge the submarine dived

2a : to come or drop down precipitously : plunge the temperature is diving

b : to plunge one's hand into something dived into his pocket

c of an airplane : to descend in a dive

3a : to plunge into some matter or activity she dove into her studies

b : to plunge or dash for some place diving for cover also : to lunge especially in order to seize something dove for the ball

transitive verb

1 : to thrust into something diving one's hands into the icy water

2 : to cause to dive dive a submarine

dive

Definition of dive (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act or an instance of diving: such as

a(1) : a plunge into water executed in a prescribed manner practicing her dives

(2) nautical : a submerging of a submarine

(3) aviation : a steep descent of an airplane at greater than the maximum speed of horizontal flight

b : a sharp decline Stocks took a dive.

2 : a shabby and disreputable establishment (such as a bar or nightclub)

3 combat sports : a faked knockout —usually used in the phrase take a divea boxer accused of taking a dive

4 football : an offensive (see offensive entry 1 sense 1c) play in which the ballcarrier plunges into the line (see line entry 1 sense 7f(2)) for short yardage

Synonyms Dived vs. Dove: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about dive

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Dived vs. Dove: Usage Guide

Verb

Dive, which was originally a weak verb, developed a past tense dove, probably by analogy with verbs like drive, drove. Dove exists in some British dialects and has become the standard past tense especially in speech in some parts of Canada. In the U.S. dived and dove are both widespread in speech as past tense and past participle, with dove less common than dived in the south Midland area, and dived less common than dove in the Northern and north Midland areas. In writing, the past tense dived is usual in British English and somewhat more common in American English. Dove seems relatively rare as a past participle in writing.

Examples of dive in a Sentence

Verb She dove into the swimming pool. The children like to dive off the boat. The competitors will be diving from the highest platform. Many people enjoy diving on the island's coral reefs. You can't dive in this water without a wet suit. The submarine can dive to 3,000 feet. The whale dove down to deeper water. Noun She practiced her dives for the competition. This will be my first dive on a coral reef. She has done dives all around the world. The crew of the submarine prepared for a dive. The jet rolled into a dive.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Try this five-minute routine first, then dive in below. — Amy Eisinger, M.a., SELF, "4-Move Cardio Endurance Workout Routine," 30 Dec. 2020 Spending time alone gave me the opportunity to reflect and dive into my mind. — Going Out Guide Staff, Washington Post, "Where we found joy in 2020, and where we’ll look for it in 2021," 30 Dec. 2020 Use your enhanced intuitive abilities that are present under the Full Moon to dive deep into the nature of your behavior and actions as of late. — Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, "Daily horoscope for December 29, 2020," 29 Dec. 2020 But until humanity sends a new mission to Venus to dive through the atmosphere or fly close to the cloud tops, the presence of lightning will likely remain an open question, Byrne says. — Robin George Andrews, Science, "Does lightning strike on Venus? Mysterious flash may help solve puzzle.," 28 Dec. 2020 The President hadn’t gathered with supporters since March, and was eager to dive back into the pool of adulation. — Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, "The Plague Year," 28 Dec. 2020 Instead, grandparents concerned about the risks of Covid-19 are often forced to make a choice: Isolate from the younger generation entirely, or dive in, becoming full-time caregivers bubbled with extended family. — Rachel Feintzeig, WSJ, "The Grandparents Who Dropped Everything to Help Out During Covid," 28 Dec. 2020 Three hours before the sun rises Sunday, 16-year-old Carolina Prieto of New Orleans will pull down her pink swim goggles and dive into the Caribbean Sea for the first leg of a 20-mile relay swim with her parents. — Katy Reckdahl, NOLA.com, "It's not the 20-mile swim that worries this New Orleans teen; it's the jellyfish," 26 Dec. 2020 While most birds have hollow bones, most penguin bones are solid like human bones, enabling them to dive and swim instead. — jsonline.com, "11 animal personalities you have to meet at the Milwaukee County Zoo," 23 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun One institution offered a deep dive into a set of ancient stocks that had been unearthed near the local police station, giving a glimpse of how justice was executed hundreds of years ago. — Paul Eisenberg, chicagotribune.com, "Landmarks: The pandemic has ushered in an age of virtual everything, making it an excellent time to go exploring," 20 Dec. 2020 Turn the bus around and go back and play at some local dive. — Rusty Simmons, SFChronicle.com, "‘Our traveling circus’: Inside Stanford football’s wild exile in Pacific Northwest," 18 Dec. 2020 Her research has taken a deep dive into painful historical connections, many that people might not even consider, that contribute to racial wealth gaps. — Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, "Economist Lisa Cook: Pandemic's pain deepens wealth gap," 17 Dec. 2020 Despite the small uptick, the population size has taken another dive in recent years as a result of ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, the Atlantic's Ed Yong reported last year. — Rasha Aridi, Smithsonian Magazine, "Biologists Celebrate the Births of Two Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale Calves," 16 Dec. 2020 Hunt was able to carry him, spin and dive for the goal for the score. — cleveland, "Our favorite photos from Cleveland Browns’ 47-42 loss to Baltimore Ravens: cleveland.com photographers," 15 Dec. 2020 Those rates, however, have taken a dive during the crisis, as the demand for subs continues to rise. — Talia Richman, Dallas News, "Substitute teaching is a ‘tough’ job and Texas can’t find enough of them during the pandemic," 11 Dec. 2020 This flagrant abuse of property rights and the rule of law ruined the agricultural sector and sent the economy into a deep dive. — Craig Richardson, National Review, "Dollarized Victoria Falls Rises above Zimbabwe’s Economic Mess," 10 Dec. 2020 Politico’s Annie Snider wrote an excellent deep dive about Paul Bruchez, a Colorado rancher working to develop innovative strategies for protecting agricultural economies while ensuring urban areas have enough water. — Sammy Roth Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "Boiling Point: These wild lands in California and the West may soon get federal protection," 10 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

11 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Dive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dive. Accessed 12 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for dive

dive

verb

English Language Learners Definition of dive

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to jump into water with your arms and head going in first

: to swim underwater usually while using special equipment to help you breathe

: to go underwater or down to a deeper level underwater

dive

noun

English Language Learners Definition of dive (Entry 2 of 2)

: a jump into water with your arms and head going in first

: an act of swimming underwater usually while using special equipment (such as a snorkel or air tank) to help you breathe

: a usually steep downward movement of a submarine, airplane, bird, etc.

See the full definition for dive in the English Language Learners Dictionary

dive

\ ˈdīv

\

dived or dove\ ˈdōv \; diving

Kids Definition of dive

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to plunge into water headfirst

2 : to swim underwater especially while using special equipment

3 : submerge sense 1 The submarine dived.

4 : to fall fast The temperature is diving.

5 : to descend in an airplane at a steep angle

6 : to move forward suddenly into or at something We dove for cover.

dive

Kids Definition of dive (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an act of plunging headfirst into water

2 : an act of swimming underwater especially while using special equipment

3 : an act of submerging a submarine

4 : a quick drop (as of prices)

5 : a sudden movement forward into or at something He made a dive for the door.

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