trundle

American  

[truhn-dl] / ˈtrʌn dl /

verb (used with object)

trundled, trundling

1. to cause (a circular object) to roll along; roll.

2. to convey or move in a wagon, cart, or other wheeled vehicle; wheel.

   The farmer trundled his produce to market in a rickety wagon.

3. Archaic. to cause to rotate; twirl; spin.

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verb (used without object)

trundled, trundling

1. to roll along.

2. to move or run on a wheel or wheels.

3. to travel in a wheeled vehicle.

   He got into his car and trundled downtown.

4. to move or walk with a rolling gait.

noun

1. a small wheel, roller, or the like.

2. a lantern wheel.

3. each of the bars of a lantern wheel.

4. a truck or carriage on low wheels.

trundle British  

/ ˈtrʌndəl /

verb

1. to move heavily on or as if on wheels

   the bus trundled by

2. archaic (tr) to rotate or spin

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noun

1. the act or an instance of trundling

2. a small wheel or roller

3. 1. the pinion of a lantern

   2. any of the bars in a lantern pinion

4. a small truck with low wheels

Other Word Forms

• trundler noun
• untrundled adjective

Etymology

Origin of trundle

First recorded in 1555–65; variant of trindle

Example Sentences

The performers trundle the keyboard instruments out for use and then off again.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

Yet stocks have continued to trundle higher regardless.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 5, 2025

One neighbour even reckons she saw a tour bus trundle past the house.

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2025

The corridor also needs electrified trains, which are more reliable than the diesel locomotives that trundle along the route and can accelerate quickly out of the station.

From Slate • May 5, 2025

Every evening Aunt Florentine would kiss each one of us “good night and good-bye!” and trundle off to bed saying, “I’m bound for Glory Land!”

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

Related Words

• pivot
• revolve
• spin
• swivel
• twirl
• twist
• whirl