trundle

1 of 2

verb

trun·​dle ˈtrən-dᵊl 

trundled; trundling ˈtrən(d)-liŋ 

ˈtrən-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: to propel by causing to rotate : roll

a … child who was trundling a hoop

—Charles Dickens

b

archaic : to cause to revolve : spin

2

: to transport in or as if in a wheeled vehicle : haul, wheel

trundled him off to school

intransitive verb

1

: to progress by revolving

2

: to move on or as if on wheels : roll

buses trundling through the city

trundler

ˈtrən(d)-lər 

ˈtrən-dᵊl-ər

noun

trundle

2 of 2

noun

1

: the motion or sound of something rolling

2

: trundle bed

3

: a round or oval wooden tub

Examples of trundle in a Sentence

Verb

She trundled her suitcase into the room.

The children trundled off to bed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The tornado-producing thunderstorms continued trundling across the Great Plains on Sunday with flood watches and warnings in effect for parts of Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Texas. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2024

Driverless Cars: Cable cars are still trundling up San Francisco’s hills, but robotaxis from Waymo are shaping up as the city’s latest must-do for visitors. —David Segal, New York Times, 8 June 2024

Noun

The Rounds are particularly well suited to families, as standard units have a trundle bed and suites have a trundle and a daybed. —Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2024

The trundle drawer gives her extra storage for blankets in the small room. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

from trundle small wheel, alteration of earlier trendle, from Middle English, circle, ring, wheel, from Old English trendel; akin to Old English trendan to revolve — more at trend entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing trundle

• trundle bed
• trundle out
• trundle-tail

Kids Definition

trundle

verb

trun·​dle

ˈtrən-dᵊl

trundled; trundling

ˈtrən-dliŋ,

-dᵊl-iŋ

1

: to transport in or as if in a wheeled vehicle : haul

trundled her off to school

2

: to move on or as if on wheels

buses trundling through the city