jumble

1 of 3

verb

jum·​ble ˈjəm-bəl 

jumbled; jumbling ˈjəm-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to move in a confused or disordered manner

transitive verb

: to mix into a confused or disordered mass

—often used with up

jumble

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

a

: a mass of things mingled together without order or plan : hodgepodge

b

: a state of confusion

2

British : articles for a rummage sale

jumble

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a small thin usually ring-shaped sugared cookie or cake

Synonyms

Verb

• confuse
• derange
• disarrange
• disarray
• discompose
• dishevel
• disjoint
• dislocate
• disorder
• disorganize
• disrupt
• disturb
• hash
• mess (up)
• mix (up)
• muddle
• muss
• rumple
• scramble
• shuffle
• tousle
• tumble
• upset

Noun (1)

• chance-medley
• chaos
• confusion
• disarrangement
• disarray
• dishevelment
• disorder
• disorderedness
• disorderliness
• disorganization
• free-for-all
• havoc
• heck
• hell
• mare's nest
• mess
• messiness
• misorder
• muddle
• muss
• shambles
• snake pit
• tumble
• welter

Examples of jumble in a Sentence

Verb

the contest editor has jumbled the letters of some common words

Noun (1)

the house is always in a jumble before and after vacation trips

a jumble of rubber bands, batteries, and pencil stubs all stuffed into that drawer

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

They were stacked in teetering towers, jumbled in messy piles. —Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024

This kind of discovery is rare for Clovis technology, which usually has remains of many more visits and activities all jumbled together. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024

Noun

Owners’ names now read like jumbles of computer code, retirement homes or rock bands: Silver Sage, Dream Homes, Blue Apple, P Fin VII, Wref II, 3xs2, Vivid, Straight Red Lines, TKJK, Jags Proper. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2024

Think of it instead as a Rube Goldberg machine, reimagining doodles as dense jumbles of steps and if-then rules. —The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps imitative

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1615, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing jumble

• jumble sale

Kids Definition

jumble

verb

jum·​ble

ˈjəm-bəl

jumbled; jumbling

-b(ə-)liŋ

: to mix in a confused mass

jumble noun