dive

1 of 2

verb

ˈdīv 

dived ˈdīvd  or dove ˈdōv  ; dived also dove; diving

intransitive verb

1

a

: 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

2

a

: 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

3

a

: 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

Dived vs. Dove: Usage Guide

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.

dive

2 of 2

noun

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 dive

a 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

Verb

• pitch
• plunge
• sound

Noun

• pitch
• plunge

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

The project dives into anti-war politics, with Pedro Pascal playing a military figure who no longer wants to throw away Rome’s young men on war. —Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024

The next total solar eclipse may not occur in the United States for another two decades, but fans of astronomy will soon have a chance to dive deep into the cosmos in a slightly different way. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024

If an otter needs to suddenly dive away from a kayaker coming too close, that uses a lot of energy. —Olivia Ferrari, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024

As with every mission that returns from orbit, the vehicle had to dive back into the thick of the Earth’s atmosphere while still traveling at more than 17,000 miles per hour (27,359 kilometers per hour). —Jackie Wattles, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

These creatures dive into life, stand together to face challenges, and stay cool under pressure. —Luke Knapp, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

Don’t forget an order of cherry naan ($5) stuffed with a sweet red paste, or dive fully into sugar land with kulfi falooda ($5) ice cream sundaes. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024

For a more active Greek isles experience, retreat to Karpathos to hike or windsurf, or scuba dive amid the World War II wrecks on Leros. —Eleni N. Gage, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024

And from Buena Park, Sarah Mosqueda dives into the Source OC, an entertainment and dining destination that’s become the center of Orange County’s emergent Koreatown. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024

Noun

Last week, dive teams recovered the body of Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, 38. —Noah Osborne, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S Release Date: May 21, 2024 The original Hellblade was a potent mix of melee combat, Norse mythology, and an unflinching dive into mental illness. —PCMAG, 6 Apr. 2024

Rockefeller, along with her husband Justin—as well as Carolina Herrera creative director Wes Gordon and his husband Paul Arnhold—spent their days exploring the archipelago via dive boat. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024

The Milwaukee Fire Department dive team and the Milwaukee Police Department Harbor Patrol assisted in the recovery effort. —Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2024

Several agencies, including the FBI, sent dive teams into the water for the search. —Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2024

Rogue is open seven days a week from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m., with an extensive whiskey selection and cozy dive bar feel. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024

On Monday, a dive team went out to the river to retrieve the vehicle. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024

The underwater camera had broken, and after one dive, the data had come back presumably corrupted. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English diven, duven, from Old English dȳfan to dip & dūfan to dive; akin to Old English dyppan to dip — more at dip

Noun

derivative of dive entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dive

• crash dive
• back dive
• dive (right) in
• front dive
• free dive
• dive (right) in/into (something)
• power dive
• make a dive for
• skin-dive
• dive-bomb
• swan dive
• pre-dive
• deep dive
• dive for
• made a dive for cover

Kids Definition

dive

1 of 2 verb

ˈdīv 

dived ˈdīvd  or dove ˈdōv  ; diving

1

a

: to plunge into water headfirst

b

: submerge sense 1

2

a

: to fall fast

the temperature dived at night

b

: to descend in an airplane at a very steep angle

3

a

: to plunge into some matter or activity

b

: to thrust oneself forward suddenly : lunge

dived for cover

diver noun

dive

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or an instance of diving: as

a

: a plunge into water done in a specified manner

b

: a steep downward movement of a submarine or an airplane

c

: a sharp drop (as in prices)

2

: a shabby place (as a bar)

3

: a faked knockout in boxing