Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense wobbles, present participle wobbling, past tense, past participle wobbled
1. verb
If something or someone wobbles, they make small movements from side to side, for example because they are unsteady.
The table wobbled when I leaned on it. [VERB]
Just then, Bart returned, wobbling on his skates. [VERB]
I narrowly missed a cyclist who wobbled into my path. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He placed one hand heavily on a fragile, wobbling table. [VERB-ing]
Wobble is also a noun.
We might look for a tiny wobble in the position of a star. [+ in]
2. verb
If a person or government wobbles, they suddenly appear less secure or less sure about something.
[journalism]
The coach began to wobble when some of his team selections provoked much baffledcomment. [VERB]
Wobble is also a noun.
Even a small wobble will hurt the banks.
More Synonyms of wobble
wobble in British English
(ˈwɒbəl)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to move, rock, or sway unsteadily
2. (intransitive)
to tremble or shake
her voice wobbled with emotion
3. (intransitive)
to vacillate with indecision
4. (transitive)
to cause to wobble
noun
5.
a wobbling movement, motion, or sound
Also called: wabble
Derived forms
wobbler (ˈwobbler)
noun
Word origin
C17: variant of wabble, from Low German wabbeln; related to Middle High German wabelen to waver
wobble in American English
(ˈwɑbəl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈwobbled or ˈwobbling
1.
to move unsteadily from side to side, as in walking
2.
to rotate unevenly so as to move from side to side
3.
to shake or tremble, as jelly does
4.
to waver in one's opinions, etc.; vacillate
verb transitive
5.
to cause to wobble
noun
6.
wobbling motion
Derived forms
wobbler (ˈwobbler)
noun
wobbling (ˈwobbling)
adjective
wobblingly (ˈwobblingly)
adverb
Word origin
prob. < LowG wabbeln, to wobble: for IE base see wave
Examples of 'wobble' in a sentence
wobble
But knowing about these historic wobbles could save your life.
The Sun (2015)
You want there to be a slight wobble in the middle.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There has been a massive wobble in recent years.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They should have a slight wobble when shaken.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Should they take the recent wobbles as a warning sign and cash in their chips?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The cooked custard should have a slight wobble.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She went on to say that despite recent wobbles the road to progress was unstoppable.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It should still have a slight wobble.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It should have a slight wobble in the centre.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Motorists are in the money as the fears about a worldwide wobble are sending oil prices through the floor.
The Sun (2016)
What actually happened is that the giant bag wobbled about in the gentle breeze until it lightly grazed a tree.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But don't be surprised if they suffer a wobble or two today.
The Sun (2009)
After the correction of their recent wobbles, the brothers are fired up for new projects.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The price might wobble about a bit, but they should be able to.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There was the inevitable wobble by a side that has lost three successive semi-finals in the intervening period.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There was a huge bang and the plane wobbled from side to side, although it landed safely.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I dread being one of those rather smug cyclists that wobble triumphantly through the clogged traffic.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A new fun thing at this place was that the table wobbled and the food was terrible.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That became the wobble board.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Tables always wobble initially - it's just the wood settling.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The captain battled to control the overloaded jet as it landed in Manchester, wobbling from side to side before stopping on a grass verge.
The Sun (2006)
A great way to boost your sense of balance for jumping is with a wobble board (see kit bag).
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I could have sworn that I heard a wobble board at one point.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
wobble
British English: wobble VERB
If something or someone wobbles, they make small movements from side to side, for example because they are unsteady.
The table wobbled when I leaned on it.
American English: wobble
Brazilian Portuguese: oscilar
Chinese: 摇晃
European Spanish: tambalearse
French: branler
German: wackeln
Italian: traballare
Japanese: よろめく
Korean: 흔들거리다
European Portuguese: oscilar
Latin American Spanish: tambalearse
All related terms of 'wobble'
wobble pump
an emergency hand pump for supplying fuel to the carburetor of an airplane engine
wheel wobble
an oscillation of the front wheels of a vehicle caused by a defect in the steering gear , unbalanced wheels, etc
wobble board
a piece of fibreboard used as a musical instrument, producing a characteristic sound when flexed
wobble plate
a collar or face plate on a shaft that is inclined at an oblique angle to the axis of rotation and either imparts reciprocating motion to push rods parallel to the shaft axis as in a swash plate pump or, conversely , converts reciprocating motion to rotation as in a swash plate motor
Chandler wobble
a slight , irregular nutation of the earth's rotational axis with a period of c. 428 days
swash plate
a collar or face plate on a shaft that is inclined at an oblique angle to the axis of rotation and either imparts reciprocating motion to push rods parallel to the shaft axis as in a swash plate pump or, conversely , converts reciprocating motion to rotation as in a swash plate motor
Chinese translation of 'wobble'
wobble
(ˈwɔbl)
vi
[object, table, jelly]摇(搖)晃 (yáohuàng)
[person, knees]颤(顫)抖 (chàndǒu)
1 (verb)
Definition
to move or sway unsteadily
The ladder wobbled on the uneven ground.
Synonyms
shake
The plane shook frighteningly as it hit the high, drenching waves.
rock
His body rocked from side to side.
sway
The people swayed back and forth with arms linked.
tremble
He began to tremble all over.
quake
Her shoulders quaked.
waver
The shadows of the dancers wavered on the wall.
teeter
He watched the cup teeter on the edge before it fell.
totter
The balconies begin to tremble and totter in the smoke and fumes.
seesaw
The stock-market see-sawed up and down.
2 (verb)
Definition
to shake
My voice wobbled with nerves.
Synonyms
tremble
He felt the earth tremble under him.
shake
I stood there, crying and shaking with fear.
vibrate
Her whole body seemed to vibrate with terror.
3 (verb)
He dithered and wobbled when questioned on his policies.
Synonyms
hesitate
She hesitated, debating whether to answer the phone.
waver
Some military commanders wavered over whether to support the coup.
fluctuate
Body temperatures can fluctuate when you are ill.
dither mainly British)
We're still dithering over whether to go away on holiday next week.
be undecided
vacillate
She is vacillating over whether or not to marry him.
shillyshally (informal)
be unable to make up your mind
swither (Scottish)
1 (noun)
Definition
a wobbling movement or sound
He rode off on his bicycle with only a slight wobble.
Synonyms
unsteadiness
shake
tremble
I'll never forget the tremble in his hand.
quaking
2 (noun)
Definition
a wobbling movement or sound
There was a distinct wobble in her voice when she replied.
Synonyms
unsteadiness
shake
blurring of photos caused by camera shake
tremor
He felt a tremor in his arm.
vibration
They heard a distant low vibration in the distance.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dither
Definition
to be uncertain or indecisive
We're still dithering over whether to go away on holiday next week.
Synonyms
vacillate,
hesitate,
waver,
haver,
falter,
hum and haw,
faff about (British, informal),
shillyshally (informal),
swither (Scottish)
in the sense of fluctuate
Definition
to change frequently and erratically
Body temperatures can fluctuate when you are ill.
Synonyms
change,
swing,
vary,
alter,
hesitate,
alternate,
waver,
veer,
rise and fall,
go up and down,
ebb and flow,
seesaw
in the sense of quake
Definition
to shudder because of instability
Her shoulders quaked.
Synonyms
shake,
tremble,
quiver,
move,
rock,
shiver,
throb,
shudder,
wobble,
waver,
vibrate,
pulsate,
quail,
totter,
convulse
Nearby words of
wobble
wizard
wizardry
wizened
wobble
wobbly
woe
woebegone
Synonyms of 'wobble'
wobble
Explore 'wobble' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rock
His body rocked from side to side.
Synonyms
sway,
pitch,
swing,
reel,
toss,
lurch,
wobble,
roll
in the sense of seesaw
Definition
to move up and down or back and forth alternately
The stock-market see-sawed up and down.
Synonyms
alternate,
swing,
fluctuate,
teeter,
oscillate,
go from one extreme to the other
in the sense of shillyshally
Definition
to be indecisive
Synonyms
haver (British),
hesitate,
falter,
waver,
fluctuate,
dither (British),
yo-yo (informal),
vacillate,
seesaw,
dilly-dally (informal),
be irresolute or indecisive,
hem and haw or hum and haw,
swither (Scottish)
in the sense of sway
Definition
to lean to one side and then the other
The people swayed back and forth with arms linked.
Synonyms
move from side to side,
rock,
wave,
roll,
swing,
bend,
lean,
incline,
lurch,
oscillate,
move to and fro
in the sense of teeter
Definition
to wobble or move unsteadily
He watched the cup teeter on the edge before it fell.
Synonyms
wobble,
rock,
totter,
balance,
stagger,
sway,
tremble,
waver,
pivot,
seesaw
in the sense of totter
Definition
to sway or shake as if about to fall
The balconies begin to tremble and totter in the smoke and fumes.
Synonyms
shake,
sway,
rock,
tremble,
quake,
shudder,
lurch,
waver,
quiver,
vibrate,
teeter,
judder
in the sense of tremor
Definition
an involuntary shudder or vibration
He felt a tremor in his arm.
Synonyms
shake,
shaking,
tremble,
trembling,
shiver,
quaking,
wobble,
quiver,
quivering,
agitation,
vibration,
quaver
in the sense of vacillate
Definition
to keep changing one's mind or opinions about something
She is vacillating over whether or not to marry him.
Synonyms
waver,
hesitate,
dither (British),
haver,
sway,
falter,
be doubtful,
fluctuate,
be uncertain,
be unsure,
teeter,
oscillate,
be undecided,
chop and change,
seesaw,
blow hot and cold (informal),
temporize,
hum and haw,
be unable to decide,
keep changing your mind,
shillyshally (informal),
be irresolute or indecisive,
swither (Scottish),
be unable to make up your mind (British),
dillydally
in the sense of vibrate
Definition
to undergo or cause to undergo vibration
Her whole body seemed to vibrate with terror.
Synonyms
shake,
tremble,
shiver,
fluctuate,
quiver,
oscillate,
judder (informal)
in the sense of vibration
Definition
a vibrating
They heard a distant low vibration in the distance.
Synonyms
throbbing,
pulse,
thumping,
hum,
humming,
throb,
resonance,
tremor,
drone,
droning,
reverberation,
pulsation
Additional synonyms
in the sense of waver
Definition
to move back and forth or one way and another
The shadows of the dancers wavered on the wall.
Synonyms
flicker,
wave,
shake,
vary,
reel,
weave,
sway,
tremble,
wobble,
fluctuate,
quiver,
undulate,
totter
in the sense of waver
Definition
to swing from one thing to another
Some military commanders wavered over whether to support the coup.