tumble

¹tum·ble

verb \ˈtəm-bəl\

tum·bledtum·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of TUMBLE

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

Examples of TUMBLE

1. He tripped and tumbled to the ground.
2. The statue came tumbling down during the riots.
3. The satellite was tumbling out of control.
4. She slipped and tumbled down the hill.
5. Everyone came tumbling out of the bar at closing time.
6. He tumbled into bed and fell asleep.
7. Water tumbled over the rocks.

Origin of TUMBLE

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TUMBLE

Synonyms

slip, stumble, topple, trip, fall

Antonyms

get up, rise, stand (up), uprise

Related Words

collapse, crumple, drop, flump, keel, plop, plunk (or plonk), slump (over); crash, free-fall, nose-dive, plummet, plunge, precipitate, wipe out; skid, slide

Near Antonyms

accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mushroom, pick up, snowball, swell, wax

Rhymes with TUMBLE

bumble, crumble, fumble, grumble, humble, jumble, mumble, rumble, scumble, stumble, umbel

²tumble

noun

Definition of TUMBLE

1

a : a disordered mass of objects or material

b : a disorderly state

2

: an act or instance of tumbling

Examples of TUMBLE

1. <cleaned a crazy tumble of buttons, hair bands, loose change, and old candy wrappers out from the couch cushions>
2. <took a little tumble on the ice>

First Known Use of TUMBLE

1634

Related to TUMBLE

Synonyms

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, 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, miscellany, variety, welter

Antonyms

order, orderliness

Related Words

detritus, notions, oddments, odds and ends, sundries; accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomerate, conglomeration; catchall; admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, combination, commixture, composite, compound, fusion, intermixture, mix-up; bollix, chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, dog's breakfast [chiefly British], mess, morass, muddle, shambles; imbroglio, knot, snarl, tangle

Near Antonyms

method, pattern, plan, system