wobble
Americanverb (used without object)
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to incline to one side and to the other alternately, as a wheel, top, or other rotating body when not properly balanced.
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to move unsteadily from side to side.
The table wobbled on its uneven legs.
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to show unsteadiness; tremble; quaver.
His voice wobbled.
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to vacillate; waver.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
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(intr) to move, rock, or sway unsteadily
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(intr) to tremble or shake
her voice wobbled with emotion
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(intr) to vacillate with indecision
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(tr) to cause to wobble
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of wobble
1650–60; < Low German wabbeln; akin to Old Norse vafla to toddle, Middle High German wabelen to waver, Old English wæflian to speak incoherently
Explanation
When things wobble, they teeter or rock unsteadily back and forth. A brand new bike rider is bound to wobble a little bit when she's pedaling down the street. A cafe table might wobble annoyingly until you prop up one leg with folded paper. And, when you first step off an amusement park ride, your legs might wobble for a while. Your voice can wobble too, or tremble, especially when you're upset or nervous. People wobble figuratively too: "When politicians wobble on important issues, it's hard to trust them."
Vocabulary lists containing wobble
Lesson 1
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"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 9
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Night Owls
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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.
Tech stocks appear poised to recover from Tuesday’s wobble and oil prices are taking a breather after U.S. benchmark crude futures pushed past $100 a barrel.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
To that end, French thinks that any additional gilt wobble on the back of a bad election outcome for Labour may provide an a attractive entry point.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
But the tech sector’s rally had a wobble Tuesday following a report that OpenAI missed revenue targets and the board has questioned its huge data-center spending.
From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026
Captain Matt Grimes has also delivered motivational messages to the squad - including inspirational talks about other title-winning sides - which have proved crucial, especially when the side had a wobble in January.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
“I have always believed that raising kids means more than just being a good parent and trying to do the right things,” Papa went on, his voice beginning to wobble.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
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.
