tumble
verb (used without object)
to fall helplessly down, end over end, as by losing one's footing, support, or equilibrium; plunge headlong.
were 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.
Investors had little interest buying bonds right when their prices were tumbling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Shares were tumbling 16.2% after hours on Thursday.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026
All over the world, incumbents were tumbling in the wake of the pandemic, and he was among the first of them.
From Salon ● May 31, 2026
Oil stocks were tumbling early Tuesday as investors hoped for a swift end to the Iran war, which has driven up crude prices over the past week and a half.
From Barron's ● Mar. 10, 2026
The words were tumbling quickly and softly out of her yellow-painted lips.
From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz
