Definition of tumble
- the stock market tumbled
- didn't tumble to the seriousness of the problem
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.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tumble.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use: 14th century
in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
See Words from the same yearconfuse, derange, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disjoint, dislocate, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, hash, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, upset;
arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy;
align (also aline), line, line up, queue;
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
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tumble.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
1634
chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, dishevelment, disorder, disorderedness, disorderliness, disorganization, free-for-all, havoc, heck, hell, jumble, mare's nest, mess, messiness, misorder, muddle, muss, shambles, welter;
: to fall down suddenly and quickly
: to fall forward while turning over
: to fall or drop suddenly in amount, value, etc.
: an act of falling or tumbling
: an athletic movement in which you roll or turn your body across the ground or through the air
See words that rhyme with tumble Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tumble Spanish Central: Translation of tumble Nglish: Translation of tumble for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tumble for Arabic speakers
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