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
From the M-W Editors
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
-
The workshops will be in skills, stunting and tumbling.
-
In the same time, hedge funds turned negative as prices tumbled.
-
Test out your circus skills on trampolines and tumbling mats after class.
-
The crash caused a grass fire, which was as life-threatening to the driver as tumbling down the mountainside.
-
EQT shares added $1.16, or 2 percent, to $59.75 while Rice Energy tumbled 97 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $25.66.
-
Dwyer broke in alone again when he was sent tumbling by a studs-up tackle from Ofori, who was given only a yellow card by referee Ismael Ornejo of El Salvador.
-
On June 14, the laundromat tumbled into New York, sitting across from the Whitney Museum of American Art, the perfect spot for a complimentary artistic upgrade.
-
OK, so a lot of money went up the stack before Mississippi tumbled to this solution.
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
tumble
Definition of tumble
1a : a disordered mass of objects or materialb : a disorderly state
2 : an act or instance of tumbling
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
-
Sometimes the changes are minor, like giving a digitized bandage to a scraped knee after someone takes a tumble or masking a real-life baby bump that doesn't jibe with a character's storyline.
-
The moves — along with the introduction of new beers like a grapefruit radler — contributed to a 19 percent tumble in 2016 production.
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 of tumble
1634
TUMBLE Defined for English Language Learners
tumble
playDefinition 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
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
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.
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
Learn More about tumble
-
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
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up tumble? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!