dive

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "dive" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it as a verb or a noun. Example sentence: The diver dove into the deep ocean for an amazing dive.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Vuma caverns, an hour north of Mombasa by dive boat with Buccaneer Diving, has exceptional wall diving and possible appearances by dolphins or manta rays.

The Guardian - Travel

Always a crowded but friendly dive, owner Jack Prince bought the joint next door several years ago and knocked out a wall, so that now you can even sit down, enjoy the dusty PBR ads on the wall or, even better, listen to live music.

The Guardian - Travel

So if you want to start watching anime shows, forget about waiting for the BBC or Channel 4. Get online and dive into anime's thriving web communities.

The Guardian

The England No3 then clubs her first boundary straight down the ground, just beating the dive of Jonassen, and follows it up with another, this one singeing the fingers of the bowler before being tossed over the rope courtesy of some pretty miserable fielding down on the boundary, with Jonassen this time the guilty party.

The Guardian - Sport

Villani almost runs herself out off the last, but a desperate dive after being sent back by Jonassen is enough to see her home.

The Guardian - Sport

My advice is to dive into the classics.

The Guardian - Music

In this adventure, you sail to the Silver Bank in a liveaboard dive ship then, twice a day, move out on small boats to locate the whales.

The Guardian - Travel

Still Boro came forward and Bettinelli had to dive to deny Reach, whose block of a clearance almost found the top corner.

The Guardian - Sport

No, generally the rugby league dive has been preceded by a genuine blow that the 'victim' is pretty sure was illegal.

The Guardian - Sport

A few moments later, Australia had a lineout five metres from their own line after Yarde, rounding Australia's marquee player Will Genia – who endured probably his least effective display in the green and gold jersey – was tackled into touch by Ashley-Cooper just as he prepared to dive into the corner.

The Guardian - Sport

Fenby took no time to recover, however, and Geraghty and Eoin Griffin combined to help the full-back dive over in the corner for Irish's third try with the last move of the first half.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dive" to describe engaging with a topic, emphasize the depth and thoroughness of the exploration: "She decided to "dive" into the research, spending countless hours in the library."

Common error

Avoid using "dive" when a simpler term like 'explore' or 'begin' would suffice. Overusing "dive" in abstract contexts can make your writing sound unnatural. For example, instead of saying 'Let's "dive" into the agenda', consider 'Let's review the agenda'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dive" is as both a verb, indicating an action of plunging or descending, and a noun, referring to the act of diving or a seedy establishment. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correctness and versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Travel

21%

Sport

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

9%

Reference

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "dive" functions as both a noun and a verb, encompassing meanings from physical plunges to deep explorations and sharp declines. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Travel, and Sport contexts, indicating a neutral register. While generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "immerse oneself" or "delve into" in academic settings. Avoid overuse in abstract contexts to maintain clarity. Given its widespread use and versatile applications, "dive" remains a valuable term for expressing various concepts. You can "dive" into the examples provided to further enrich your understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plunge

This word refers to a sudden and rapid descent or entry, similar to one meaning of "dive".

immerse oneself

This phrase suggests a deep involvement or engagement, akin to diving into a subject or activity.

take a nosedive

This idiom specifically implies a steep and rapid decline, mirroring the 'decline' sense of "dive".

delve into

This option is used to describe thorough exploration, which is similar to the 'explore by diving' meaning.

descend rapidly

This phrase captures the action of moving downwards quickly, much like the 'descend sharply' meaning of "dive".

fall sharply

This expression conveys a sudden decrease, parallel to the 'decline' sense.

exploring deeply

This captures the act of profound discovery, akin to diving into a topic.

jump in

This informal phrase suggests engaging enthusiastically, similar to diving into an activity.

take a header

This expression describes a headfirst fall, similar to the physical action of diving.

dip briefly

A "dip briefly" implies a quick reduction, and may be appropriate when the use of "dive" suggests a minor or ephemeral decline.

FAQs

How can I use "dive" in a sentence?

You can use "dive" to describe a physical action like jumping into water, as in "He took a "dive" into the pool". It can also mean engaging deeply with a subject, such as "She wanted to "dive" into the details of the project".

What are some synonyms for "dive" when referring to a sharp decline?

When "dive" refers to a sharp decline, you can use alternatives like "plunge", "nosedive", or "fall sharply" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "dive" in formal writing?

While "dive" is generally acceptable, consider the context. In highly formal writing, alternatives like "immerse oneself" or "delve into" might be more suitable, depending on the intended nuance.

What does it mean to "dive in"?

To "dive in" means to start something with enthusiasm and energy. For example, "She "dived in" and immediately began working on the presentation".