Word choice · B2
Soar, surge, plummet, dwindle, level off
Describing a graph well means matching the verb to the shape of the line. Soar and rocket are large fast rises. Surge is a sharp rise that often falls back. Climb is steady. Edge up is barely visible. Plummet and plunge are large fast falls, dip is small and temporary, dwindle is a long slow decline, and level off means the line has gone flat.
Which word, and why
- soar
rises far and fast
To increase quickly to a high level.
prices soared · soaring demand · soar to a record
- rocketjournalistic
rises extremely fast, usually in the press
To increase very suddenly and steeply.
costs rocketed · rocketing energy bills
- surge
a sharp rise that often falls back again
To increase suddenly and strongly for a period.
demand surged · a surge in applications
- climb
steady, unhurried rise
To increase gradually and continuously.
unemployment climbed · climb steadily
- edge up
rises so slightly it is nearly flat
To increase by a very small amount.
edged up 0.2% · inflation edged up
- plummet
falls far and fast
To fall suddenly to a much lower level.
shares plummeted · plummeting sales
- plunge
falls suddenly and steeply
To drop very quickly.
temperatures plunged · plunge into deficit
- dip
falls a little, then comes back
To go down slightly for a short time.
sales dipped · a slight dip
- dwindle
declines slowly, towards almost nothing
To become steadily smaller over a long period.
dwindling audience · numbers dwindled · dwindling reserves
- taper off
declines gradually and then stops
To reduce gradually until it ends.
applications tapered off · rain tapering off
- level off
stops changing — the line goes flat
To stop rising or falling and stay at the same level.
growth levelled off · level off at 3%
- fluctuate
goes up and down repeatedly
To rise and fall irregularly.
prices fluctuated · fluctuate wildly
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House prices by almost forty per cent in three years.