tumble

verb tum·ble \ ˈtəm-bəl \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Examples: tumble in a Sentence

Definition of tumble

tumbled; tumbling play \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

See tumble defined for English-language learners

See tumble defined for kids

Examples of tumble in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of tumble from the Web

That also means that capital tends to leave emerging markets, sending stocks tumbling as investors sell shares.

— simon constable, WSJ, "Emerging Markets Have a Dollar Problem," 3 June 2018
In the hours since Zuckerberg first announced Facebook Dating, Match Group's stock has tumbled 11%.

— madeline buxton, refinery29.com, "Introducing Your Newest Dating App: Facebook," 1 May 2018
In some abort scenarios the company has simulated, the Starliner spacecraft has tumbled.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "SpaceX and Boeing spacecraft may not become operational until 2020," 1 May 2018
Standard phone plans now routinely feature unlimited talk and texting, and unit costs for data have tumbled.

— matthew yglesias, Vox, "T-Mobile’s proposed takeover of Sprint, explained," 30 Apr. 2018
Revenue has tumbled at the men’s magazine since Biglari took control in 2014.

— patrick danner, San Antonio Express-News, "Shares of San Antonio’s Biglari Holdings plunge following controversial vote," 27 Apr. 2018
Rattled investors sent stocks tumbling when the Moscow exchange reopened on April 9th.

— The Economist, "American sanctions, and fears over Syria, roil Russian markets," 12 Apr. 2018
The deepening rout in once high-flying technology shares sent U.S. stocks tumbling to start the second quarter, as fresh presidential criticism of Amazon.com and retaliatory tariffs from China rattled markets.

— bloomberg news, OregonLive.com, "Tech stocks lead Wall Street down sharply as Intel slides, China hits back against Trump," 2 Apr. 2018
Prices for Permian gas, produced alongside oil in the play, have tumbled 30 percent from a year ago, while output rose to a record.

— ryan collins and naureen s. malik, Houston Chronicle, "Pipeline shortage means West Texas gas has no place to go," 31 Mar. 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of tumble

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

tumble Synonyms

tumble

noun

Definition of tumble

1 a : a disordered mass of objects or material

b : a disorderly state

2 : an act or instance of tumbling

See tumble defined for English-language learners

Examples of tumble in a Sentence

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 of tumble from the Web

Great gobs of water — 300 gallons in fact — tumble from a giant tipping bucket, and water scoots down dueling slides of differing difficulty and height restrictions — Fun Things, 42 inches; Cat’s Hat, 48 inches.

— david g. molyneaux, miamiherald, "This cruise ship's elevators may be smarter than you," 30 May 2018
Reaves didn’t score at all in his first 26 games after joining the Knights in a trade, but the rough-and-tumble forward broke through with the game-winning goal in the Western Conference finals clincher against Winnipeg.

— greg beacham, BostonGlobe.com, "Vegas Golden Knights take 1-0 lead in Stanley Cup Final," 29 May 2018
While department store cosmetics sales tumble, specialty beauty shops like Ulta and Sephora are seeing a boom.

— nathan bomey, USA TODAY, "Bon-Ton Stores closing: See list of Boston Store, Carson's, Younkers, Herberger's stores," 18 Apr. 2018
High-flying Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. took quite a tumble.

— ken powtak, courant.com, "Chris Sale Struggles As Braves Beat Red Sox," 28 May 2018
Altitude Trampoline Park This park near Indian School Road and 40th Street in Phoenix has a kids’ court, gymnastic tumble tracks, a rock wall, dodgeball courts, foam pits, dunk lanes and a battle beam.

— wendy killeen, azcentral, "Indoor playgrounds, trampoline parks and places in Phoenix kids can play and stay cool," 24 May 2018
The Angels' runs were driven in by Kole Calhoun, whose RBI single snapped an 0-for-20 stretch, and Justin Upton, whose RBI double was preceded by two strikeouts and an 0-for-21 tumble.

— jeff miller, latimes.com, "Angels put the O’s in Astros," 24 Apr. 2018
Lopez is 0-2 after three starts this season, the latest an 8-1 tumble at the hands of the A’s Monday night.

— john hickey, chicagotribune.com, "Reynaldo Lopez strikes out 10 but gets no offensive support in White Sox's 8-1 loss to A's," 17 Apr. 2018
All of this because on our way to Venice from Bordeaux our Land Rover had taken an unfortunate tumble in a tunnel.

— oddur thorisson, Condé Nast Traveler, "Friuli-Venezia Giulia Is an Italy Far Removed from Its Stereotypes," 7 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of tumble

1634

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

tumble Synonyms

Synonyms

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;

Antonyms

order, orderliness;

Near Antonyms

method, pattern, plan, system;

Related Words

anarchy, lawlessness, misrule, riot;

knot, snarl, tangle;

labyrinth, maze, web;

maelstrom, storm;

bollix, clutter, litter, mishmash, shuffle;

hodgepodge, medley, miscellany, morass, motley;

TUMBLE Defined for English Language Learners

tumble

verb

Definition of tumble for English Language Learners

: to fall down suddenly and quickly
: to fall forward while turning over
: to fall or drop suddenly in amount, value, etc.

tumble

noun

Definition of tumble for English Language Learners

: an act of falling or tumbling
: an athletic movement in which you roll or turn your body across the ground or through the air

TUMBLE Defined for Kids

tumble

verb tum·ble \ ˈtəm-bəl \

Definition of tumble for Students

tumbled; tumbling

1 : to fall suddenly and helplessly

He tumbled off the bridge.

2 : to fall while rolling or bouncing

Boxes tumbled down the stairs.

3 : to move or go in a hurried or confused way

The children tumbled out of the bus.

4 : to toss together into a confused mass

5 : to perform gymnastic feats of rolling and turning

6 : to suffer a sudden downward turn or defeat

The value of gold tumbled.

tumble

noun

Definition of tumble for Students

1 : an act or instance of falling often while rolling or bouncing

Peter gave the dice a quick tumble.
—Chris Van Allsburg, Jumanji

2 : a messy state or collection

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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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tumble

Definition of tumble

Examples of tumble in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tumble from the Web

Origin and Etymology of tumble

tumble Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

tumble

Definition of tumble

Examples of tumble in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tumble from the Web

First Known Use of tumble

tumble Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to TUMBLE

Related Phrases

TUMBLE Defined for English Language Learners

tumble

Definition of tumble for English Language Learners

tumble

Definition of tumble for English Language Learners

TUMBLE Defined for Kids

tumble

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tumble

Definition of tumble for Students

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