wobble

[ wob-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, wob·bled, wob·bling.

1. to incline to one side and to the other alternately, as a wheel, top, or other rotating body when not properly balanced.
2. to move unsteadily from side to side:

   The table wobbled on its uneven legs.

3. to show unsteadiness; tremble; quaver:

   His voice wobbled.

4. to vacillate; waver.

verb (used with object)

, wob·bled, wob·bling.

1. to cause to wobble.

noun

1. a wobbling movement.

wobble

/ ˈwɒbəl /

verb

1. intr to move, rock, or sway unsteadily
2. intr to tremble or shake

   her voice wobbled with emotion

3. intr to vacillate with indecision
4. tr to cause to wobble

noun

1. a wobbling movement, motion, or sound

Derived Forms

• ˈwobbler, noun

Other Words From

• wobbler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wobble¹

1650–60; < Low German wabbeln; akin to Old Norse vafla to toddle, Middle High German wabelen to waver, Old English wæflian to speak incoherently

Word History and Origins

Origin of wobble¹

C17: variant of wabble, from Low German wabbeln; related to Middle High German wabelen to waver

Example Sentences

Planets detected by the wobble technique were “little more than phantoms,” Cowen wrote in Science News in 2007.

From Science News

The moon causes the tides to change each day, but it also has a slight wobble in its orbit.

From Popular-Science

This set is also packed with thoughtful design details like thick cushions with removable covers, for easy cleaning, as well as bottom stabilizers to prevent wobble.

From Popular-Science

The telescope flexes slightly as it rotates with respect to the sun, introducing a wobble into its measurements that mimics parallax.

From Quanta Magazine

Since warmer oceans dissolve less carbon dioxide, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rose and fell in concert with these orbital wobbles, amplifying their effects.

From Quanta Magazine

As the president neared the end of his remarks, a young woman beside him began to wobble, on the verge of fainting.

From The Daily Beast

It turns out that as a slurring, stumbling Weeble Wobble of a trophy wife, Akerman really shines.

From The Daily Beast

I feel my limbs wobble—his reputation is nearly as fearsome as his bushy mustache.

From The Daily Beast

Few would hesitate to throw their speaker aside if his knees appear to wobble.

From The Daily Beast

In the first half of the interview, this confidence seemed to wobble.

From The Daily Beast

Then Tommy Kerr's brain, which for more than seven hours had been as steady as a sleeping top, gave a little wobble.

From Project Gutenberg

He was standing up, again looking about for a longer stick, when once more his brain gave a wobble.

From Project Gutenberg

At least, he had kicked one of the boxes out of place and the whole structure began to wobble.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly I felt the fill going soft under the drivers—felt the 44 wobble and slew.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the first quiver of his tremendous insecurity, the first wobble of that gigantic credit top he had kept spinning so long.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• careen
• falter
• flounder
• lurch
• oscillate
• quiver
• reel
• seesaw
• shimmy
• stumble
• sway
• teeter
• totter
• tremble
• vacillate
• vibrate
• waver
• wiggle