- present participle of tumble.
tumbling
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of tumbling
First recorded in 1375–1425, tumbling is from the late Middle English word tomblyng. See tumble, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As she’s being driven to her office, she’s blindsided by the news that her medical records have been leaked, revealing she is in ill health and sending company shares tumbling.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
He made a full-speed tumbling catch in the right-field gap to rob Austin Wells of an extra-base hit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
The Morandi Bridge in Genoa, part of a key highway connecting France and Italy, gave way in torrential rain on August 14, 2018 sending dozens of vehicles tumbling into the abyss.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
A tumbling stock price, however, shrank the value of those holdings by $2.4 billion last year, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
I heard the stream before I saw it, a great rushing torrent tumbling down off the hillside and into a pool of bright water.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.