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

Stanley tumblers have gone viral on social media for good reason. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025

The line includes an assortment of tumblers and cold cups adorned with hearts, flowers and pink and red hues, according to Starbucks. —Gabe Hauari, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

Some people are phasing out common plastics, like replacing food containers with glass or ditching single-use water bottles for stainless-steel tumblers—but that is just the tip of the iceberg. —Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2025

Stanley tumblers, Owalas and other trendy water bottles are still cool this school year as well, with 37% of parents saying that their kids will want one this back-to-school season. —Natalie Wu, CNBC, 24 July 2025

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