tumbling

1 of 3

noun

tum·​bling ˈtəm-b(ə-)liŋ 

: the skill, practice, or sport of executing gymnastic feats (such as somersaults and handsprings) without the use of apparatus

tumbling

2 of 3

adjective

: tipped or slanted out of the vertical

—used especially of a cattle brand

tumbling

3 of 3

present participle of tumble entry 1

Examples of tumbling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The tumbling vehicle had left a long trail of debris across the sheer cliff—shoes, clothes, books, papers, luggage. — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Water, detergent, agitation and friction all take a toll, and drying piles on heat and more tumbling. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

Adjective

In the last few weeks of 2022 alone, Giuliani generated one more tumbling wave of negative publicity. — John Marks, CNN, 7 Jan. 2023

The Senate majority leader represents the big-business wing of the Republican Party, and Wall Street, if the tumbling stock market is any indication, fears Trump’s protectionism will cause economic pain. — Jeet Heer, The New Republic, 5 Apr. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1604, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1916, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tumbling

• tumbling barrel
• tumbling verse

Rhymes for tumbling

• bumbling
• crumbling
• fumbling
• grumbling
• humbling
• mumbling
• rumbling
• stumbling