tumbled; tumbling
ˈtəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
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
1
: to cause to tumble (as by pushing or toppling)
3
: to whirl in a tumbling barrel
1
a
: a disordered mass of objects or material
b
: a disorderly state
2
: an act or instance of tumbling
Synonyms
Verb
Noun
- agglomerate
- agglomeration
- alphabet soup
- assortment
- botch
- clutter
- collage
- crazy quilt
- farrago
- gallimaufry
- grab bag
- gumbo
- hash
- hodgepodge
- hotchpotch
- jambalaya
- jumble
- jungle
- litter
- macédoine
- medley
- mélange
- menagerie
- miscellanea
- miscellany
- mishmash
- mixed bag
- montage
- motley
- muddle
- olio
- olla podrida
- omnium-gatherum
- pastiche
- patchwork
- patchwork quilt
- potpourri
- ragbag
- ragout
- rummage
- salad
- salmagundi
- scramble
- shuffle
- smorgasbord
- stew
- variety
- welter
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
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Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Wall, Scientific American, 20 Nov. 2023
The sector, a core contributor to the state economy, has tumbled in four consecutive months and has lost 3,700 jobs, including 500 last month.
—Andrew Moreau, arkansasonline.com, 18 Nov. 2023
Starship has been grounded since its first flight attempt in April ended in a fireball when the rocket started tumbling and was destroyed about 24 miles up.
—Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023
While there are many different diamond categories, broadly prices for wholesale polished diamonds have tumbled about 20% this year, firing a more dramatic fall in rough — or uncut — stones that have plunged as much as 35%, with the steepest declines happening though late summer and early autumn.
—Thomas Biesheuvel, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2023
The squad’s most visible member was a heavyset defender named Steve McNulty, whom fans called Sumo; a photograph of him jumping for a ball, with his belly tumbling between his shirt and shorts, went mildly viral.
—Simon Akam, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2023
The prices of the precious metals have tumbled, with rhodium’s price down to one-sixth of its 2021 peak.
—Jasmine Cui, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2023
Advertising revenue tumbled 13 percent on audience declines and a soft ad market in the U.S., and to a lesser extent in international markets.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Nov. 2023
After its patio tumbled off the edge, the city government bought the house and demolished it.
—Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2023
Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2023
Biden, who will be turning 81 years old on Nov. 20, has raised some concerns from Democrats that his tumbles could spell trouble for his 2024 reelection chances.
—Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2023
Amid the scrutiny, Hawaiian Electric has seen its share price tumble, plunging over 40% to a 13-year low, on Monday morning following the lawsuit.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 15 Aug. 2023
But while analysts from JPMorgan warn the market could be in for a tumble, Morgan Stanley’s Andrew Slimmon believes the Magnificent Seven could push higher yet.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023
From the moment your child takes their first steps, they're bound to take some tumbles.
—Stacey Colino, Parents, 20 Sep. 2023
Duxbury takes a big tumble after dropping its opener to Patriot League rival Hanover.
—Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023
Most importantly, it’s decently made and likely to stand up to the rough and tumble of family life.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2023
Still, the criminal indictment of Mr. Giuliani, his first, marks the lowest point so far in his yearslong reputational tumble.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023
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Verb
As a result, SpaceX commanded a detonation of the tumbling vehicle, which occurred four minutes after liftoff.
—Mike Wall, Scientific American, 20 Nov. 2023
The sector, a core contributor to the state economy, has tumbled in four consecutive months and has lost 3,700 jobs, including 500 last month.
—Andrew Moreau, arkansasonline.com, 18 Nov. 2023
Starship has been grounded since its first flight attempt in April ended in a fireball when the rocket started tumbling and was destroyed about 24 miles up.
—Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023
While there are many different diamond categories, broadly prices for wholesale polished diamonds have tumbled about 20% this year, firing a more dramatic fall in rough — or uncut — stones that have plunged as much as 35%, with the steepest declines happening though late summer and early autumn.
—Thomas Biesheuvel, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2023
The squad’s most visible member was a heavyset defender named Steve McNulty, whom fans called Sumo; a photograph of him jumping for a ball, with his belly tumbling between his shirt and shorts, went mildly viral.
—Simon Akam, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2023
The prices of the precious metals have tumbled, with rhodium’s price down to one-sixth of its 2021 peak.
—Jasmine Cui, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2023
Advertising revenue tumbled 13 percent on audience declines and a soft ad market in the U.S., and to a lesser extent in international markets.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Nov. 2023
After its patio tumbled off the edge, the city government bought the house and demolished it.
—Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2023
Noun
Russia’s state media and senior officials were also rattled by the rouble’s tumble into three-digit territory.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2023
Biden, who will be turning 81 years old on Nov. 20, has raised some concerns from Democrats that his tumbles could spell trouble for his 2024 reelection chances.
—Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2023
Amid the scrutiny, Hawaiian Electric has seen its share price tumble, plunging over 40% to a 13-year low, on Monday morning following the lawsuit.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 15 Aug. 2023
But while analysts from JPMorgan warn the market could be in for a tumble, Morgan Stanley’s Andrew Slimmon believes the Magnificent Seven could push higher yet.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023
From the moment your child takes their first steps, they're bound to take some tumbles.
—Stacey Colino, Parents, 20 Sep. 2023
Duxbury takes a big tumble after dropping its opener to Patriot League rival Hanover.
—Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023
Most importantly, it’s decently made and likely to stand up to the rough and tumble of family life.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2023
Still, the criminal indictment of Mr. Giuliani, his first, marks the lowest point so far in his yearslong reputational tumble.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tumble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of tumble was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing tumble
Dictionary Entries Near tumble
Cite this Entry
“Tumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tumble. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
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 noun1
: a messy state or collection
2
: an act or instance of tumbling
More from Merriam-Webster on tumble
Nglish: Translation of tumble for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of tumble for Arabic Speakers
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