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plummet

verb/ˈplʌm.ɪt/

definition

to fall or drop sharply in amount or value

example

After the economic crisis, stock prices began to plummet, causing widespread panic among investors.

synonyms
dropplungefall
word origin — The word 'plummet' originates from the late Middle English term 'plummete,' which comes from the Old French 'plommet,' meaning 'a weight' or 'plumb bob,' derived from Latin 'plumbum,' meaning 'lead.'

SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 287

Set 287 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: plummet, careen, cohere, whet, lionize. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. plummet · verb/ˈplʌm.ɪt/

    to fall or drop sharply in amount or value

    After the economic crisis, stock prices began to plummet, causing widespread panic among investors.

    Synonyms: drop, plunge, fall

    Origin: The word 'plummet' originates from the late Middle English term 'plummete,' which comes from the Old French 'plommet,' meaning 'a weight' or 'plumb bob,' derived from Latin 'plumbum,' meaning 'lead.'

  2. careen · verb/kəˈrin/

    to tilt or lean over while moving, or to rush headlong in a reckless manner

    The car began to careen wildly around the corner as the driver lost control during the rainstorm.

    Synonyms: sway, lurch, careen

    Origin: Originates from the early 19th century, possibly from the French 'cariner', meaning 'to tilt a ship' or from 'careen', a term for the action of a ship being placed on her side for cleaning or repair.

  3. cohere · verb/koʊˈhɪr/

    to stick together or be united in a logical or consistent manner

    The ideas in her essay cohere beautifully, creating a strong argument that is easy to follow.

    Synonyms: adhere, unite, bond

    Origin: from Latin 'cohaerere', meaning 'to stick together'

  4. whet · verb/wɛt/

    to sharpen or stimulate interest or appetite

    The enticing aroma of freshly baked cookies was enough to whet my appetite for dessert.

    Synonyms: stimulate, sharpen, arouse

    Origin: Middle English 'whetton', from Old English 'hwettan', meaning to make sharp

  5. lionize · verb/ˈlaɪəˌnaɪz/

    to treat someone as a celebrity or to idolize them

    The media tends to lionize celebrities, often crafting narratives that elevate them to larger-than-life status.

    Synonyms: celebrate, idolize, extol

    Origin: The word 'lionize' originated in the early 19th century, derived from the name of the lion, a symbol of grandeur and authority. It suggested treating someone as a lion, someone of great status or importance.