plummet

To plummet means to fall or drop very quickly and by a large amount. It can describe a physical fall, but it is also very common for sudden declines in numbers, prices, temperatures, confidence, or popularity. For example: "The stock market plummeted after the announcement" means prices fell dramatically and quickly. "Temperatures plummeted overnight, bringing an unexpected frost" means the temperature dropped fast.

The origin of the word is fascinating! It comes from the Old French word plomb, meaning "lead" (the heavy metal). This connection refers to a "plummet" or "plumb bob"—a lead weight attached to a line used by builders to find a perfectly vertical line. This hints at the idea of something weighty falling swiftly and straight downwards.

Plummet is not limited to physical drops, though. It can also describe a rapid decline in less concrete things like morale or popularity. You might say, "Her confidence plummeted after failing the exam," meaning her self-belief dropped sharply. It is often used for negative trends, such as economic downturns, falling health, or shrinking resources.

While it usually implies something undesirable, plummet mainly describes speed and size: the change is fast and steep. Whether that change is good or bad depends on the context, but in everyday English it is most often used for bad news. So, if something suddenly falls a long way or drops by a lot, chances are it is plummeting.