tumble

play

verb tum·ble \ˈtəm-bəl\

Definition of tumble

tumbled

;

tumbling

play \-b(ə-)liŋ\

intransitive verb
1a : to fall suddenly and helplesslyb : to suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeatc : to decline suddenly and sharply (as in price) : drop the stock market tumbledd : to fall into ruin : collapse
2a : to perform gymnastic feats in tumblingb : 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)
2a : to throw together in a confused massb : 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.

Origin and Etymology 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

tumble

noun tum·ble

Definition of tumble

1a : a disordered mass of objects or materialb : 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

1634

First Known Use of tumble

1634

TUMBLE Defined for English Language Learners

tumble

play

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

play

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

play

noun tum·ble

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