tumble

[ tuhm-buhl ]

/ ˈtʌm bəl /

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See synonyms for: tumble / tumbled / tumbling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), tum·bled, tum·bling.

to fall helplessly down, end over end, as by losing one's footing, support, or equilibrium; plunge headlong: to tumble down the stairs.

to roll end over end, as in falling: The stones tumbled down the hill.

to fall or decline rapidly; drop: Prices on the stock market tumbled today.

to perform gymnastic feats of skill and agility, as leaps or somersaults.

to fall suddenly from a position of power or authority; suffer overthrow: As one dictator tumbles, another is rising to take his place.

to fall in ruins, as from age or decay; collapse; topple: The walls of the old mansion tumbled down upon the intruders.

to roll about by turning one way and another; pitch about; toss.

to stumble or fall (usually followed by over): to tumble over a sled.

to go, come, get, etc., in a hasty and confused way: The people tumbled out of the theater. He tumbled hurriedly into his clothes.

Informal. to understand or become aware of some fact or circumstance (often followed by to): He finally tumbled to what they were doing.

Rocketry. (of a missile) to rotate without control end over end.

verb (used with object), tum·bled, tum·bling.

to cause to fall or roll end over end; throw over or down.

to throw or toss about; cause disarray, as in handling or searching.

to put in a disordered or rumpled condition.

to throw, cast, put, send, etc., in a precipitate, hasty, or rough manner.

to cause to fall from a position of authority or power; overthrow; topple: They tumbled him from his throne.

to cause to fall or collapse in ruins: The wreckers tumbled the walls of the building.

to subject to the action of a tumbling box.

noun

an act of tumbling or falling.

a gymnastic or acrobatic feat.

an accidental fall; spill.

a drop in value, as of stocks.

a fall from a position of power or authority: The great director took a tumble when he was replaced by a newcomer.

a response indicating interest, affection, etc.: She wouldn't give me a tumble.

tumbled condition; disorder or confusion.

a confused heap: a tumble of papers, ashes, pens, and keys on the desk.

Chiefly New England. a haycock.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about tumble

take a tumble to, Australian Slang. to come to understand.

Origin of tumble

First recorded in1250–1300; Middle English tum(b)len “to dance in acrobatic style” (cognate with Dutch tuimelen, Low German tummeln ), frequentative of Middle English tomben, Old English tumbian, (cognate with Old Norse tumba, akin to Old High German tūmōn “to reel” (perhaps from Old Low German ); compare French tomber “to fall,” from Germanic ); see -le

OTHER WORDS FROM tumble

un·tum·bled, adjective

Words nearby tumble

tulwar, tum, Tumaco, tumatakuru, Tumbes, tumble, tumblebug, tumble cart, tumble-down, tumble-dry, tumble dryer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tumble in a sentence

The violence has once again left victims’ families with a tumble of emotions — grief, anger, confusion.
Three shootings bring District’s homicide count to 101 for year|Peter Hermann|July 12, 2021|Washington Post
As the US economy continues to open up, the April jobs report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the boom in delivery jobs has taken a tumble.
After being hired in huge numbers, US delivery workers are losing their jobs|Michelle Cheng|May 7, 2021|Quartz
The best ski helmets overall offer comfort, protection from the elements, and safeguarding from the unique types of impacts one might encounter when taking a tumble in the snow.
Best ski helmets: Comfortable protection for hitting the slopes|PopSci Commerce Team|March 12, 2021|Popular-Science
I’ve blasted through pow shots and have taken some big tumbles.
Anon’s Goggle-Mask Combo Makes COVID-Safe Skiing Easy|Brent Rose|March 4, 2021|Outside Online

It wasn’t just the big players — customer service company Zendesk and security firm Okta also dropped Parler as a customer, furthering its tumble off the Web.
Parler is offline, but violent posts scraped by hackers will haunt users|Rachel Lerman, Nitasha Tiku|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
At any moment, the slightest loss in concentration could see a disastrous tumble.
How the Circus Got a Social Conscience|Justin Jones|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His youngest son, Orange Scott, was a rough-and-tumble trickster and a terrible tease.
Those Kansas City Blues: A Family History|Katie Baker|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No friend of liberty can avoid the tumble back and forth between Burke and Paine.
My Coffee Klatch With Rand Paul|P. J. O’Rourke|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mandelbaum began her climb to the top of the crime world as a peddler on the rough-and-tumble, bustling streets of New York City.
Meet 'The Queen of Thieves' Marm Mandelbaum, New York City's First Mob Boss|J. North Conway|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Flecks of frosting tumble in slow motion to light on his belly, which gently swells beneath a black sweater.
The Stacks: The True Greatness of Muhammad Ali|Peter Richmond|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He could hardly walk up the rickety front steps of the old tumble-down house, and his thirteen-year-old son had to help him.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner
A good man mixes with the world in the rough-and-tumble, and takes his share of the dangers, and the falls, and the temptations.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
I shall be so afraid that the roof will tumble in, or somebody come down the chimney to catch me, that I shant sleep a wink.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
The third skulker took advantage of the cessation of firing to tumble down from his perch and fly for his life.
Overland|John William De Forest
I hope you will appreciate my devotion; in a tumble-down old house, near the ramparts.
Chicot the Jester|Alexandre Dumas, Pere

British Dictionary definitions for tumble

tumble

/ (ˈtʌmbəl) /

verb

to fall or cause to fall, esp awkwardly, precipitately, or violently

(intr usually foll by about) to roll or twist, esp in playingthe kittens tumbled about on the floor

(intr) to perform leaps, somersaults, etc

to go or move in a heedless or hasty way

(tr) to polish (gemstones) in a tumbler

(tr) to disturb, rumple, or toss aroundto tumble the bedclothes

noun

the act or an instance of tumbling

a fall or toss

an acrobatic feat, esp a somersault

a decrease in value, number, etcstock markets have taken a tumble

a state of confusion

a confused heap or pilea tumble of clothes

Word Origin for tumble

Old English tumbian, from Old French tomber; related to Old High German tūmōn to turn

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with tumble

tumble

see rough and tumble.

tumble

Idioms about tumble

Origin of tumble

OTHER WORDS FROM tumble

Words nearby tumble

Words related to tumble

How to use tumble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tumble

Word Origin for tumble

Other Idioms and Phrases with tumble