: one that plunges: such as
a
: diver
b
: a reckless gambler or speculator
c(1)
: a sliding reciprocating piece driven by or against fluid pressure
especially
: piston
(2)
: a piece with a motion like that of a ram or piston
d
: a rubber suction cup on a handle used to free plumbing traps and waste outlets of obstructions
Examples of plunger in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ebony Carrig said the team started with 12 plungers and raised $5,000 back then.
—
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
Last year, more than 3,400 plungers raised $1.6 million.
—Deena Butterfield, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
The stealth-action gameplay is a little more pedestrian but still manages to distinguish itself with suitably crunchy melee combat and the enjoyable improvisation of attacking Nazis with everyday items, from wrenches to plungers.
—Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2024
The controls are great, with flipper buttons, a plunger, and nudge buttons that include a vibrating rumble.
—Simon Hill, Wired News, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for plunger
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Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
Last year, more than 3,400 plungers raised $1.6 million.
—Deena Butterfield, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
The stealth-action gameplay is a little more pedestrian but still manages to distinguish itself with suitably crunchy melee combat and the enjoyable improvisation of attacking Nazis with everyday items, from wrenches to plungers.
—Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2024
The controls are great, with flipper buttons, a plunger, and nudge buttons that include a vibrating rumble.
—Simon Hill, Wired News, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for plunger
Cite this Entry
“Plunger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plunger. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plunger
noun
plung·er
ˈplən-jər 
: one that plunges: as
a
: a device (as a piston in a pump) that acts with a plunging motion
b
: a rubber suction cup on a handle used to free plumbing traps and waste outlets of something blocking them
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