tumbles 1 of 2

plural of tumble
1
2
as in falls
the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily took a little tumble on the ice

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

tumbles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of tumble
1
as in stumbles
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily the infant stood for a moment and then tumbled on the carpet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tumbles
Noun
Greater feedback from the nerve stimulation could also prevent missteps and accidental tumbles. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025 Within those questions is the greatness revealed when the image moves again, when charging Eagles safety Reed Blankenship lifts a hand to tip Mayfield’s fourth-quarter throw, when the flailing football tumbles into linebacker Jihaad Campbell’s arms near the pylon. Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 According to Burlison, the video shows a high-speed object—presumably the missile—hitting the orb, which then deforms, tumbles, and sheds smaller fragments, one barely visible. Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025 Water tumbles from cliffs like silk ribbons with Staubbach Falls drifting beside charming chalets trimmed in geraniums. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025 In the Bahe River in central China, the slow-flowing water tumbles over stones and zigzags between towering hills. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
Workers are startled when a jar tumbles out of a dusty box and rolls onto the ground. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025 Ralphy leaps up in shock, tumbles off the sofa, and sprints toward his owner, who is filming nearby. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 Easy to roll your eyes at from the opening scene and increasingly pigheaded in all of the ones that follow, Man-su starts off a long way from likable and tumbles much lower in our estimation from there. Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2025 In one passage, the cameras follow water down a shower drain and into a cavernous subterranean universe; in another, Mike tumbles through a sky of stars. Carrie Battan, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025 Video shows partial collapse of NYC high-rise Videos from the scene show the moment the shaft tumbles down onto the ground, leaving a trail of dust in the air. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025 Gordon said while the market’s gains can spur consumer spending, the opposite can be true when the market tumbles. John Towfighi, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025 Meanwhile, Múlafossur Waterfall tumbles into the Atlantic below—its roar softened by Northern Fulmars wheeling overhead. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025 At only 20 feet high, Abrams Falls’ stature isn’t its most impressive quality; however, the sheer force of water that tumbles down it is an experience to enjoy with several senses—certainly sight, but also sound and feel too. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumbles
Noun
  • Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.
    Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Authorities are urging the public to avoid open areas and to be alert to structures, trees, and power lines due to the risk of falls and accidents.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Now, as falls turns to winter, some states are warning that funding for low-income heating aid is being delayed because of the federal government shutdown.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • For larger messes, the stain-resistant rug is also machine-washable for quick and hassle-free maintenance.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • For a vacuum that’s quiet in operation and capable of tackling messes on hard floors and medium-pile carpets, this is a great pick.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • But Zoë’s first adaptation stumbles out of the gate — in large part because this show isn’t really her show.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2025
  • With the three Premier League stumbles and a grating 1-0 Champions League shutout to Galatasaray, Liverpool found itself with four uninterrupted losses for the first time since 2014.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That plunges her into dreamlike visions on Mita, a sinister entity feeding on her pain.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
  • While the filmmaker’s first nine movies were modestly budgeted — see Inherent Vice (2014) or Hard Eight (1996) — the $140 million One Battle, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, plunges Anderson into franchise-like economics.
    Peter Bart, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Schools can request waivers if the rule disrupts pick-ups or drop-offs.
    Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The group also argued that moving people into federal immigration custody while local criminal cases are ongoing disrupts the legal process, potentially depriving victims of justice and defendants the opportunity to defend against charges.
    Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Voids can contribute to sinkholes as the ground collapses into the underlying cavities.
    Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Nov. 2025
  • The New York Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll on Monday after a 2-8 start to the 2025 NFL season and a string of fourth-quarter collapses that left ownership exhausted and fans demanding change.
    Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • To that end, Nordstrom and Macy’s are among the chains trimming down their assortments.
    Phil Wahba, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
  • To usher in the holidays, Bergdorf’s has lined up gift assortments, the holiday book and experiences such as exclusive designer appearances, leading up to the unveiling of its holiday windows later this season.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tumbles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumbles. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

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