tumbler

noun

tum·​bler ˈtəm-blər 

1

: one that tumbles: such as

a

: one who performs tumbling feats : acrobat

b

: any of various domestic pigeons that tumble or roll over backward in flight or on the ground

2

: a drinking glass without foot or stem and originally with pointed or convex base

3

a

: a movable obstruction in a lock (such as a lever, latch, wheel, slide, or pin) that must be adjusted to a particular position (as by a key) before the bolt can be thrown

b

: a piece on which the mainspring acts in a gun's lock

4

: a device or mechanism for tumbling (such as a revolving cage in which clothes are dried)

5

: a worker who operates a tumbler

tumblerful

ˈtəm-blər-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Examples of tumbler in a Sentence

She drank a tumbler of water.

a gymnast who's a skillful tumbler

Recent Examples on the Web

Starbucks also just released an entire Bearista Collection, including a tumbler with a playful gift bow lid, a matching espresso mug and snow globe set, and a ceramic mug. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 6 Nov. 2026

The coffee giant has also expanded its mascot line with new gift-ready holiday tumblers, mugs, snow globes, charms, ornaments and water bottles. — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

The form these took was traditional — cast from metal and cut to align with tumblers inside the lock. — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 29 Oct. 2026

Some people swear by a barely-there rim; others prefer the reassuring heft of a substantial tumbler. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tumbler

noun

tum·​bler ˈtəm-blər 

1

: a person (as an acrobat) who tumbles

2

: a pigeon that often tumbles backward in flight

3

: a drinking glass

a water tumbler

4

: a movable part in a lock that must be adjusted (as by a key) before the lock will open