nosedive

noun

nose·​dive ˈnōz-ˌdīv How to pronounce nosedive (audio)
1
: a downward nose-first plunge of a flying object (such as an airplane)
2
: a sudden extreme drop
stock prices took a nosedive
nose-dive intransitive verb

Examples of nosedive in a Sentence

The plane went into a nosedive. The stock market took a nosedive.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The hotel was sold last year for $10.6 million, a value that took a nosedive in recent years amid the local hospitality industry’s decline. Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 12 July 2025 That action, which prompted a nosedive in Asia-to-U.S. trade in May, was largely viewed as a precursor to more expansive regulatory action against de minimis. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 3 July 2025 Elon Musk is back in form at Tesla and championing the Cybertruck, which has taken a nosedive in deliveries. Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 And the center has experienced a nosedive in yearly subscriptions. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for nosedive

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nosedive was in 1912

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nosedive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nosedive. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

nosedive

1 of 2 noun
nose·​dive ˈnōz-ˌdīv How to pronounce nosedive (audio)
1
: a downward nose-first plunge (as of an airplane)
2
: a sudden extreme drop (as in prices)

nose-dive

2 of 2 verb
nose-dived; nose-diving
: to plunge suddenly or sharply

More from Merriam-Webster on nosedive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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