plunk

[ pluhngk ]

verb (used with object)

1. to pluck (a stringed instrument or its strings); twang:

   to plunk a guitar.

2. to throw, push, put, drop, etc., heavily or suddenly; plump (often followed by down ):

   Plunk down your money. She plunked herself down on the seat.

3. to push, shove, toss, etc. (sometimes followed by in, over, etc.):

   to plunk the ball over the net; to plunk a pencil into a drawer.

verb (used without object)

1. to give forth a twanging sound.
2. to drop heavily or suddenly; plump (often followed by down ):

   to plunk down somewhere and take a nap.

noun

1. act or sound of plunking.
2. Informal. a direct, forcible blow.
3. Slang. a dollar.

adverb

1. Informal. with a plunking sound.
2. Informal. squarely; exactly:

   The tennis ball landed plunk in the middle of the net.

plunk

/ plʌŋk /

verb

1. to pluck (the strings) of (a banjo, harp, etc) or (of such an instrument) to give forth a sound when plucked
2. often foll by down to drop or be dropped, esp heavily or suddenly

noun

1. the act or sound of plunking
2. informal.
   a hard blow

interjection

1. an exclamation imitative of the sound of something plunking

adverb

1. informal.
   exactly; squarely

   plunk into his lap

Word History and Origins

Origin of plunk¹

First recorded in 1760–70; expressive word akin to pluck

Word History and Origins

Origin of plunk¹

C20: imitative

Example Sentences

Instead, Roberts watched Hudson plunk slumping Yankees star Aaron Judge, give up a long single off the wall to Jazz Chisholm Jr., then walk Giancarlo Stanton to load the bases.

From Los Angeles Times

But even through those periods, there’s so much music in those shows that I was always able to have a guitar around, sit at a keyboard and plunk out some songs for the show.

From Los Angeles Times

Flaherty said he didn’t plunk Tatis on purpose, noting that it was only a two-run game at that point.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s still a small population of people who are willing to plunk down the money to buy the Enquirer at the supermarket,” Levine said.

From Seattle Times

But this idea that if you plunk that genius in any moment in time, it would rise to the top, that’s not necessarily true.

From Salon

Related Words

• plop