tumble
verb (used without object)
to fall helplessly down, end over end, as by losing one's footing, support, or equilibrium; plunge headlong.
was tumbling
-
past progressiveof tumble.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
In the early hours of February 19, 2025, the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket was tumbling back to Earth when it exploded into a fireball that made headlines from the UK to Poland.
From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026
Bitcoin was tumbling below $85,000 on Monday afternoon as a selloff in the world’s largest cryptocurrency picked up steam following its biggest monthly drop since February.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 1, 2025
That meant if lots of layoffs were happening or if the stock market was tumbling too frightfully, the Fed could cut interest rates down to zero.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 2, 2023
McIlroy was 3 under for his round playing the 18th when his drive went right - not unusual for the shape of that hole - and was tumbling toward the sand until it stopped.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 1, 2023
I was tumbling into it and there wasn’t nothing to even grab onto.
From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña
