dive
/daɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /daɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdīv/ (ame, mw)
dive — verb
- divepresent simple I / you / we / they
- diveshe / she / it
- divedpast simple
- dovepast simple
- diving-ing form
1. to enter water headfirst, usually with the arms stretched out forward and above
to enter water headfirst, usually with the arms stretched out forward and above the head, for enjoyment or in a competition
The children cheered when Sora dove off the wooden dock into the cool lake.
dive + off [place] + into [water]
Nellie took a deep breath and dove into the pool at the deep end.
dive + into [body of water]
Femi climbed onto the high board and dove into the water without any hesitation.
The lifeguard dove into the rough sea to pull the struggling swimmer to safety.
- surface
to come up out of the water
文法句型
dive + into/off/from + [place]
dive + into/under + [body of water]
用法筆記
The past tense can be either dove (especially in American English) or dived (especially in British English). Both forms are correct.
常見錯誤
2. to swim underwater using special breathing equipment, such as an air tank and ma
to swim underwater using special breathing equipment, such as an air tank and mask, in order to explore or observe marine life
During their holiday in Thailand, Isabela and Yan went to dive among the coral reefs.
dive among [underwater features]
Mert's diving licence allows him to go down to thirty metres below the surface.
dive + up to [depth]
The instructor checked Sivan's air tank before they both descended to explore the shipwreck.
Lauren plans to dive off the coast of Honduras next summer with marine biologists.
- go diving
colloquial phrasal equivalent for recreational scuba diving
文法句型
dive + in/at/off + [location]
dive + to + [depth]
用法筆記
When the context is clearly recreational diving, 'go diving' is a common alternative: 'They went diving in the Red Sea last year.'
3. to experience a sudden and steep drop in price, quantity, or level
to experience a sudden and steep drop in price, quantity, or level
The company's share price dove by fifteen per cent after the disappointing earnings report.
dive + by [percentage]
Temperatures in the northern region are expected to dive below freezing tonight.
dive below [threshold]
When the stock market dove last autumn, many small investors lost their savings.
Sales of the product dove sharply after customers complained about the poor quality.
- plummet
similar intensity, also implies a steep, uncontrolled fall
- crash
more dramatic; often used for a complete collapse in value
- drop sharply
less dramatic; describes the result without the speed implication
文法句型
dive + by + [amount]
dive + to + [value]
dive + from + [value]
用法筆記
Used most often in financial and economic contexts. 'Dive' differs from the milder 'drop' or 'fall' by emphasising the speed and severity of the decrease.
常見錯誤
4. to move steeply downward through the air at high speed
to move steeply downward through the air at high speed
The fighter jet dove toward the runway before landing smoothly.
dive toward [target]
The eagle dove from the sky and snatched a fish from the river.
The helicopter dove suddenly to avoid the smoke rising from the burning building.
A peregrine falcon can dive at speeds of over three hundred kilometres per hour.
- plunge
very close in meaning; 'plunge' may suggest a less controlled or more violent descent
- drop steeply
more neutral; lacks the speed connotation of 'dive'
文法句型
dive + toward + [target]
dive + from + [height]
用法筆記
The subject is typically an aircraft, bird, or flying object. For prices or values, use sense 3 instead.
5. to move suddenly and quickly to a particular place, especially to hide, escape d
to move suddenly and quickly to a particular place, especially to hide, escape danger, or catch an object
When the rain started, Sana dove into the nearest cafe to stay dry.
dive into [place] for shelter
The goalkeeper dove to his left and pushed the ball away from the goal.
dive + direction to make a save
Élise dove behind the sofa when the doorbell rang, hoping to surprise her brother.
The cat dove under the table the moment it heard the vacuum cleaner start up.
文法句型
dive + into/behind/under/for + [place or thing]
用法筆記
Unlike other senses of 'dive', this one does not require downward movement — it emphasises quickness and suddenness in any direction.
常見錯誤
6. in soccer, to drop to the ground on purpose when no player from the other team h
in soccer, to drop to the ground on purpose when no player from the other team has actually made contact, hoping the referee will call a foul and give your team a free kick or penalty
The forward got a yellow card for diving — the replay showed no contact.
dive — simulating a foul
Fans booed the player for diving in the area to win a penalty.
Indra accused the striker of diving, insisting that the defender's foot never made contact.
The referee ignored the protest and waved play on, certain it was a dive.
- simulate a foul
the official term used by referees and governing bodies
文法句型
dive — no object needed; often used in the continuous form: 'he is diving'
用法筆記
This sense carries a strongly negative judgement — players who dive are seen as dishonest. The noun form 'a dive' is also common: 'It was a clear dive.'
7. in rugby or American football, to launch your body forward while carrying the ba
in rugby or American football, to launch your body forward while carrying the ball so that you land stretched out on the field — done to score a try or touchdown, or to reach the ball before it hits the ground
Hyun dived over the try line with two defenders grabbing at his legs.
dive + over + [target area] in rugby
With three seconds left, Selim dived forward and stretched the ball toward the end zone.
dive + forward to reach a goal
The fullback dived low to catch the bouncing ball before an opponent could reach it.
Reuben dived across the corner of the field and grounded the ball for a try.
- hurl yourself
more dramatic and informal; 'He hurled himself at the line.'
- launch yourself
slightly more deliberate than dive; 'She launched herself over the ruck.'
文法句型
dive + forward / across / over
用法筆記
This sense is specific to rugby and American football; in rugby the action often aims to score a try, while in American football it is frequently used to reach the goal line or catch a pass.
常見錯誤
dive — noun
- divesingular
- divesplural
1. a movement in which a person jumps head first into a pool, lake, or the sea, typ
a movement in which a person jumps head first into a pool, lake, or the sea, typically with arms stretched forward
Brian performed a perfect dive off the high board at the swimming pool.
collocation: perform a dive / do a dive
The children practised their dives from the side of the pool before the race.
Amihan took a deep breath and made a clean dive into the cold lake.
Nikos won the competition with a dive that barely made a splash.
The coach showed the team a video of a perfect dive from an Olympic champion.
文法句型
make/take a + dive
dive + into + water
用法筆記
Countable noun; frequently paired with the verbs 'do', 'take', 'make', or 'perform'.
常見錯誤
2. a trip or activity in which a person swims below the surface of the ocean or a l
a trip or activity in which a person swims below the surface of the ocean or a lake, usually carrying an air tank and a mask
The resort offers guided dives for beginners at the coral reef every morning.
collocation: guided dive / go on a dive
Daichi went on a dive near the island and saw a sea turtle swimming nearby.
Before the dive, the instructor checked everyone's air tanks and masks.
Caio recorded his dive with a small camera attached to his mask.
A strong current made the dive more difficult than the group had expected.
- scuba dive
a more technical term that specifies the breathing equipment used
- swim
general movement in water; does not imply going below the surface with equipment
文法句型
go for a + dive
dive + in/at + location
用法筆記
Often refers to recreational scuba diving. The phrase 'go for a dive' implies a single underwater session.
3. a sudden and sharp fall in the market price of a financial asset, such as a comp
a sudden and sharp fall in the market price of a financial asset, such as a company's shares, a government bond, or a national currency
The company's shares took a dive after the disappointing sales report was released.
collocation: take a dive (financial)
Investors were worried by the sudden dive in the value of the local currency.
collocation: dive in [value/price]
A dive in oil prices caused problems for companies that depended on high energy costs.
Min sold her shares before the dive and saved a lot of money.
The technology index took a dive when the trade talks collapsed.
- surge
a sudden strong upward movement in value
文法句型
a dive + in + noun
用法筆記
Subject of the sentence is typically a financial asset (share, currency, bond). Not used for physical objects losing value. For drops in non-financial quantities such as temperature, ratings, or attendance, see noun sense 8 (SHARP DECLINE).
常見錯誤
4. a steep, rapid downward movement through the air by an aircraft, bird, or other
a steep, rapid downward movement through the air by an aircraft, bird, or other flying object
The eagle went into a dive and caught a fish from the river.
collocation: go into a dive
The pilot pulled the plane out of its dive just moments before reaching the ground.
collocation: pull out of a dive
Emre watched a hawk make a steep dive toward a rabbit in the field.
Birds of prey use a fast dive to catch animals on the ground.
The plane's sudden dive scared the passengers inside the cabin.
文法句型
go into a + dive
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'go into a dive' (beginning the descent) and 'pull out of a dive' (ending it). For aircraft, a dive is steeper and faster than a normal descent.
5. an action in football where a player falls to the ground on purpose without bein
an action in football where a player falls to the ground on purpose without being pushed or tripped, hoping the referee will award a free kick or penalty
The striker was given a yellow card for his obvious dive inside the penalty area.
football context: dive in the penalty area
Fans shouted at the player, accusing him of a dive when no one touched him.
The coach said the dive stopped the team from scoring on a free kick.
Devika thought the player's dive was obvious and the referee should have seen it.
Replays showed that the forward was not touched — it was a clear dive.
- simulation
the formal football term for a dive; used in official rule books and referee reports
- flop
informal term, especially used in basketball for faking a foul
文法句型
take a + dive
用法筆記
This sense is always negative — it describes cheating. 'Take a dive' can also refer to boxing (see noun sense 7) but in football it means faking a fall.
常見錯誤
6. a sudden, fast movement of the body toward something, especially to reach, catch
a sudden, fast movement of the body toward something, especially to reach, catch, or avoid it
The goalkeeper made a desperate dive to his left and stopped the ball.
collocation: make a dive for something
Obi made a dive for the umbrella as the wind blew it off the table.
Sivan took a dive under the couch to grab the ball before the dog came.
Ezra made a quick dive for the door before it closed all the way.
The cat made a sudden dive under the bed when it heard the loud noise.
文法句型
make a + dive + for/preposition
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this does not involve water or a planned action. It describes an urgent, reactive movement in any direction.
7. an act in boxing where a fighter falls to the ground on purpose and acts as if t
an act in boxing where a fighter falls to the ground on purpose and acts as if they have been hit too hard to continue, in order to cheat or help the other fighter win unfairly
The referee knew the boxer took a dive when he fell after a light punch.
take a dive — fixed phrase for faking a knockout in boxing
Officials investigated after the boxer seemed to take a dive in round three.
Walid refused to take a dive, although he was offered a lot of money.
The boxer's manager was arrested for asking his fighter to take a dive.
Fans were angry when they learned their champion had taken a dive during the match.
- fix
broader term for arranging an illegal result in a sports match
- throw a fight
strongly implies the fighter agreed to lose on purpose, not just fake a knockout
文法句型
take + a + dive
用法筆記
Frequently in the fixed phrase 'take a dive'. The subject is usually a boxer, and the phrase implies dishonest or illegal behaviour.
常見錯誤
8. a quick and usually large fall in any measurable quantity, level, or amount — fo
a quick and usually large fall in any measurable quantity, level, or amount — for example, a drop in temperature, a decline in approval ratings, or a decrease in participation numbers
After the cold front arrived, temperatures took a sharp dive below freezing across the region.
take a sharp dive — common collocation for sudden quantity drop
The mayor's approval rating took a dive after the scandal was reported by local journalists.
collocation: approval rating takes a dive
Hotel service quality took a dive after the new owners took over.
Attendance at the local museum took a dive during the long winter months.
Luca's energy levels took a dive after working twelve-hour shifts for several weeks.
文法句型
a + dive + in + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Frequently paired with 'take' ('approval ratings took a dive') or 'sharp' ('a sharp dive in quality'). Common in weather (temperature), opinion polls (approval ratings), and performance contexts. For drops in purely financial assets such as shares or currencies, see noun sense 3 (STOCK / VALUE DROP).
常見錯誤
9. a bar, restaurant, hotel, or club that is in very bad condition, looks dirty or
a bar, restaurant, hotel, or club that is in very bad condition, looks dirty or poorly maintained, and is often visited by people who behave in a rough or unpleasant way
We walked into a dark dive near the station and left right away.
informal noun for a dirty, unpleasant bar or club
From the outside, the hotel looked like a dive, with broken windows and old furniture.
Lara refused to eat at the dive, even though the prices were very low.
The old nightclub had become a dive, with broken chairs and sticky floors.
Tourists were warned to avoid the dive bars near the edge of town.
- upscale place
a high-quality, well-maintained restaurant, hotel, or bar
文法句型
a + [adjective] + dive
用法筆記
This is a derogatory and informal term. Use it only in casual conversation, not in formal writing. It describes a place that looks neglected or unsafe. The compound 'dive bar' is especially common in American English.