tumble

1 of 2

verb

tum·​ble ˈtəm-bəl 

tumbled; tumbling ˈtəm-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to fall suddenly and helplessly

b

: to suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat

c

: to decline suddenly and sharply (as in price) : drop

the stock market tumbled

d

: to fall into ruin : collapse

2

a

: to perform gymnastic feats in tumbling

b

: to turn end over end in falling or flight

3

: to roll over and over, to and fro, or end over end : toss

4

: to issue forth hurriedly and confusedly

5

: to come by chance : stumble

6

: to come to understand : catch on

didn't tumble to the seriousness of the problem

transitive verb

1

: to cause to tumble (as by pushing or toppling)

2

a

: to throw together in a confused mass

b

: rumple, disorder

3

: to whirl in a tumbling barrel

tumble

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a disordered mass of objects or material

b

: a disorderly state

2

: an act or instance of tumbling

Synonyms

Verb

• fall
• slip
• stumble
• topple
• trip

Noun

• agglomerate
• agglomeration
• alphabet soup
• assortment
• botch
• clutter
• collage
• crazy quilt
• farrago
• gallimaufry
• grab bag
• gumbo
• hash
• hodgepodge
• hotchpotch
• jambalaya
• jumble
• jungle
• litter
• macédoine
• medley
• mélange
• menagerie
• miscellanea
• miscellany
• mishmash
• mixed bag
• montage
• motley
• muddle
• olio
• olla podrida
• omnium-gatherum
• pastiche
• patchwork
• patchwork quilt
• potpourri
• ragbag
• ragout
• rummage
• salad
• salmagundi
• scramble
• shuffle
• smorgasbord
• stew
• variety
• welter

Examples of tumble in a Sentence

Verb

He tripped and tumbled to the ground.

The statue came tumbling down during the riots.

The satellite was tumbling out of control.

She slipped and tumbled down the hill.

Everyone came tumbling out of the bar at closing time.

He tumbled into bed and fell asleep.

Water tumbled over the rocks.

Noun

cleaned a crazy tumble of buttons, hair bands, loose change, and old candy wrappers out from the couch cushions

took a little tumble on the ice

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The company released a painful earnings report this week, revealing that fourth-quarter revenues tumbled 3% to $9.1 billion, and the magic retail metric—quarterly global comparable store sales—were down 7%. —Azure Gilman, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2024

This little kitty purrs, walks, and even tumbles, giving my daughter all the fun of having another cat without the extra fur or midnight meows. —Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 2 Nov. 2024

Noun

Bananas is the first to take the tumble into the water, undoubtedly bruising his gladiator-size ego. —Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024

Despite the box office tumble, Maoyan suggests that there are some bright spots. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, frequentative of tumben to dance, from Old English tumbian; akin to Old High German tūmōn to reel

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tumble

• rough-and-tumble
• take a tumble
• tumble dry
• tumble to

Kids Definition

tumble

1 of 2 verb

tum·​ble ˈtəm-bəl 

tumbled; tumbling -b(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to perform gymnastic feats of rolling and turning

b

: to turn end over end in falling or in flight

the satellite was tumbling out of control

2

a

: to fall suddenly and helplessly

b

: to suffer a sudden downward turn or defeat

3

: to move or go in a hurried or confused way

everyone came tumbling out at closing time

4

: to come to understand

I thought you'd tumble to what I meant

5

: to toss about or together into a confused mass

tumble the ingredients lightly

tumble

2 of 2 noun

1

: a messy state or collection

2

: an act or instance of tumbling