tumble

1 of 2

verb

tum·​ble ˈtəm-bəl 

tumbled; tumbling 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

tumble

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a disordered mass of objects or material

b

: a disorderly state

2

: an act or instance of tumbling

Synonyms

Verb

• fall
• stumble
• trip
• slip
• topple

Noun

• jumble
• medley
• assortment
• variety
• collage
• scramble
• shuffle

Examples of tumble in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

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 on the Web

Verb

Adjust earnings per share tumbled 86% to 14 cents, beating Wall Street forecasts by a penny. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 27 June 2025

In 1996, a 3-year-old boy tumbled 24 feet into a gorilla enclosure after sliding through a barrier at a Chicago-area zoo. —Mark Gray, People.com, 27 June 2025

Noun

The coating also isn’t chip-resistant so a tumble might cause a scuff or two. —Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 19 June 2025

The aftermath of Virginia’s clumsy tumble into a rose bed where her exposed cleavage is profusely pricked by thorns lasts for all of one scene. —Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tumble

• rough-and-tumble
• take a tumble
• tumble dry
• tumble to

Rhymes for tumble

• bumble
• crumble
• fumble
• grumble
• humble
• jumble
• mumble
• rumble
• stumble
• umbel

Kids Definition

tumble

1 of 2 verb

tum·​ble ˈtəm-bəl 

tumbled; tumbling -b(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to perform gymnastic feats of rolling and turning

b

: to turn end over end in falling or in flight

the satellite was tumbling out of control

2

a

: to fall suddenly and helplessly

b

: to suffer a sudden downward turn or defeat

3

: to move or go in a hurried or confused way

everyone came tumbling out at closing time

4

: to come to understand

I thought you'd tumble to what I meant

5

: to toss about or together into a confused mass

tumble the ingredients lightly

tumble

2 of 2 noun

1

: a messy state or collection

2

: an act or instance of tumbling