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

Designed to fit the tumblers people actually use, these straws come in functional sizes and shapes perfect for everything from water and iced coffee to smoothies. — ABC News, 20 June 2026

Son apologized for the campaign and tumbler name choice before his dismissal and pledged company-wide training on historical awareness and ethics. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026

The mess tent is filled with oil portraits, crystal whisky tumblers, antique teak dressers and carefully collected safari memorabilia. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Other sale finds include a planter pot in a limited edition LoveShackFancy print, adorable dog bookends with a 61 percent discount, and shatterproof tumblers primed for Fourth of July hosting. — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 12 June 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