tumble
1 of 2verb
tum·ble ˈtəm-bəl 
tumbled; tumbling ˈtəm-b(ə-)liŋ
intransitive verb
1
a
: to fall suddenly and helplessly
b
: to suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat
c
: to decline suddenly and sharply (as in price) : drop
the stock market tumbled
d
: to fall into ruin : collapse
2
a
: to perform gymnastic feats in tumbling
b
: to turn end over end in falling or flight
3
: to roll over and over, to and fro, or end over end : toss
4
: to issue forth hurriedly and confusedly
5
: to come by chance : stumble
6
: to come to understand : catch on
didn't tumble to the seriousness of the problem
transitive verb
1
: to cause to tumble (as by pushing or toppling)
2
a
: to throw together in a confused mass
b
: rumple, disorder
3
: to whirl in a tumbling barrel
tumble
2 of 2noun
1
a
: a disordered mass of objects or material
b
: a disorderly state
2
: an act or instance of tumbling
Synonyms
Verb
- fall
- slip
- stumble
- topple
- trip
Noun
- agglomerate
- agglomeration
- alphabet soup
- assortment
- botch
- clutter
- collage
- crazy quilt
- farrago
- gallimaufry
- grab bag
- gumbo
- hash
- hodgepodge
- hotchpotch
- jambalaya
- jumble
- jungle
- litter
- macédoine
- medley
- mélange
- menagerie
- miscellanea
- miscellany
- mishmash
- mixed bag
- montage
- motley
- muddle
- olio
- olla podrida
- omnium-gatherum
- pastiche
- patchwork
- patchwork quilt
- potpourri
- ragbag
- ragout
- rummage
- salad
- salmagundi
- scramble
- shuffle
- smorgasbord
- stew
- variety
- welter
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He tripped and tumbled to the ground. The statue came tumbling down during the riots. The satellite was tumbling out of control. She slipped and tumbled down the hill. Everyone came tumbling out of the bar at closing time. He tumbled into bed and fell asleep. Water tumbled over the rocks. Noun cleaned a crazy tumble of buttons, hair bands, loose change, and old candy wrappers out from the couch cushions took a little tumble on the ice See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2022 As oil prices tumble, gas prices have fallen in tandem. Jonathan Ponciano, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Walmart wasn’t the only retailer to see its shares tumble. Fortune, 26 July 2022 The dead spruce is threatening to tumble on the cabin and must be felled. David James, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 When stocks started to tumble early this year, the booming market for carbon credits fell too, as speculators cashed out on bets that demand from companies looking to reduce their emissions would keep prices rising. Shane Shifflett, WSJ, 22 July 2022 Bitcoin continues to tumble this week to trade just above $20,000 on Wednesday as the cryptocurrency sell-off shows little sign of abating. Anna Cooban, CNN, 15 June 2022 The number of straight days the Dow Jones has fallen as the market continues to tumble. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 13 May 2022 Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency values started to tumble last week, mirroring the downward trend that overtook markets after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates half a percentage point. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 11 May 2022 Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 11 Sep. 2022 Meta, like Snap, is also dealing with its own problems on top of skepticism over its metaverse endeavors, and has seen its stock price tumble more than 50% so far this year. Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 Before the crypto markets took their most recent tumble, the firm claimed about $3 billion in assets under management, Davies told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month. Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 29 June 2022 Crypto had permeated much of popular culture before its recent tumble, with many Super Bowl ads touting the digital assets and celebrities and YouTube personalities routinely promoting it on social media. Haleluya Hadero And Kelvin Chan, Chron, 18 June 2022 Its tumble has worsened as investors ramp up their expectations for how aggressively the Fed will move on interest rates. Stan Choe, USA TODAY, 15 June 2022 Xander Bogaerts finished the inning after his tumble in left field Friday, but was replaced for the ninth. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 20 May 2022 Physically, this translated to Kidman trading in her signature tumble of red waves for a brunette pixie cut. Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 10 May 2022 Perry later poked fun at her Idol tumble on Twitter, sharing a video of her alongside Richie and Bryan while Seacrest pretended to be The Magic Mirror from Snow White. Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 2 May 2022 See More
Verb
Thanks to a set of anti-collision and infrared sensors, the robot vacuum won't get stuck in corners or accidentally tumble down a flight of stairs. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2022 As oil prices tumble, gas prices have fallen in tandem. Jonathan Ponciano, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Walmart wasn’t the only retailer to see its shares tumble. Fortune, 26 July 2022 The dead spruce is threatening to tumble on the cabin and must be felled. David James, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 When stocks started to tumble early this year, the booming market for carbon credits fell too, as speculators cashed out on bets that demand from companies looking to reduce their emissions would keep prices rising. Shane Shifflett, WSJ, 22 July 2022 Bitcoin continues to tumble this week to trade just above $20,000 on Wednesday as the cryptocurrency sell-off shows little sign of abating. Anna Cooban, CNN, 15 June 2022 The number of straight days the Dow Jones has fallen as the market continues to tumble. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 13 May 2022 Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency values started to tumble last week, mirroring the downward trend that overtook markets after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates half a percentage point. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 11 May 2022 Noun
There was just a 10% probability of a fourth straight 75 basis point increase, however, which could be one reason why stocks have rebounded so far in September following their August tumble. Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 11 Sep. 2022 Meta, like Snap, is also dealing with its own problems on top of skepticism over its metaverse endeavors, and has seen its stock price tumble more than 50% so far this year. Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 Before the crypto markets took their most recent tumble, the firm claimed about $3 billion in assets under management, Davies told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month. Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 29 June 2022 Crypto had permeated much of popular culture before its recent tumble, with many Super Bowl ads touting the digital assets and celebrities and YouTube personalities routinely promoting it on social media. Haleluya Hadero And Kelvin Chan, Chron, 18 June 2022 Its tumble has worsened as investors ramp up their expectations for how aggressively the Fed will move on interest rates. Stan Choe, USA TODAY, 15 June 2022 Xander Bogaerts finished the inning after his tumble in left field Friday, but was replaced for the ninth. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 20 May 2022 Physically, this translated to Kidman trading in her signature tumble of red waves for a brunette pixie cut. Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 10 May 2022 Perry later poked fun at her Idol tumble on Twitter, sharing a video of her alongside Richie and Bryan while Seacrest pretended to be The Magic Mirror from Snow White. Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 2 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, frequentative of tumben to dance, from Old English tumbian; akin to Old High German tūmōn to reel
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Noun
1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing tumble
Kids Definition
tumble 1 of 2
verb
tum·ble ˈtəm-bəl
tumbled; tumbling
1
: to fall suddenly and helplessly
As she walked on, distracted, she tripped on a rock, tumbling hard to the ground … Kelly Barnhill, The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Kelly Barnhill, The Girl Who Drank the Moon2
: to fall while rolling or bouncing
Boxes tumbled down the stairs.
3
: to move or go in a hurried or confused way
The children tumbled out of the bus.
4
: to toss together into a confused mass
5
: to perform gymnastic feats of rolling and turning
6
: to suffer a sudden downward turn or defeat
The value of gold tumbled.
tumble
2 of 2noun
1
: an act or instance of falling often while rolling or bouncing
Peter gave the dice a quick tumble. Chris Van Allsburg, Jumanji
Chris Van Allsburg, Jumanji2
: a messy state or collection
tumbled 1 of 2
adjective
as in littered
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness a tumbled entryway filled with the usual jumble of sports equipment, backpacks, papers, and shoes Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- littered
- messed
- messy
- chaotic
- jumbled
- confused
- stained
- tangled
- cluttered
- muddled
- sloppy
- filthy
- shaggy
- disarrayed
- rumpled
- tousled
- disarranged
- dirty
- mussed
- wrinkled
- blackened
- spotted
- knotted
- disordered
- pell-mell
- disheveled
- unkempt
- disorderly
- untidy
- sullied
- upside-down
- mussy
- draggled
- smudged
- besmirched
- topsy-turvy
- dishevelled
- soiled
- out of joint
- snarled
- higgledy-piggledy
- begrimed
- nasty
- tainted
- befouled
- hugger-mugger
- uncombed
- contaminated
- grimy
- at sixes and sevens
- bedraggled
- dingy
- bemired
- polluted
- neglected
- mucky
- defiled
- adulterated
- grungy
- uncleanly
- grubby
- unclean
- cruddy
- foul
- sloven
- squalid
- slovenly
- dowdy
- frowsy
- slatternly
- grotty
- shabby
- frowzy
- negligent
- sordid
- neglectful
- seedy
- sleazy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cleaned
- ordered
- trim
- organized
- sparkling
- crisp
- orderly
- clean
- tidy
- neat
- cleanly
- stainless
- unsullied
- uncluttered
- shipshape
- spotless
- immaculate
- kempt
- snug
- antiseptic
- tidied
- neatened
- unsoiled
- regular
- systematic
- combed
- hygienic
- careful
- systematized
- methodical
- methodic
- well-ordered
- meticulous
- bandbox
- groomed
- manicured
- fastidious
- spic-and-span
- fussy
- finicky
- spick-and-span
- untainted
- unpolluted
- wholesome
- undefiled
- well-groomed
- taintless
tumbled
2 of 2verb
1
as in fell
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily the infant stood for a moment and then tumbled on the carpet Synonyms & Similar Words
- fell
- stumbled
- slipped
- tripped
- toppled
- collapsed
- slid
- skidded
- plunged
- plopped
- plummeted
- crumpled
- dropped
- plunked
- crashed
- precipitated
- keeled
- nose-dived
- plonked
- wiped out
- flumped
- slumped (over)
- free-fell
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rose
- stood (up)
- uprose
- got up
2
as in plunged
to go to a lower level especially abruptly stock prices tumbled after the earnings report was released Synonyms & Similar Words
- fell
- plunged
- dipped
- dropped
- plummeted
- declined
- skidded
- sank
- sunk
- descended
- crashed
- dived
- decreased
- dove
- cratered
- lowered
- nose-dived
- retreated
- subsided
- diminished
- drooped
- ebbed
- dwindled
- waned
- receded
- lessened
- abated
- tapered off
- moderated
- let up
- died (down)
- de-escalated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rose
- soared
- lifted
- mounted
- spiked
- ascended
- arose
- increased
- upped
- built
- grew
- swelled
- expanded
- accumulated
- mushroomed
- ballooned
- intensified
- waxed
- escalated
- enlarged
- burgeoned
- snowballed
- picked up
- bourgeoned
3
as in disrupted
to undo the proper order or arrangement of tumbled all the clothes in her closet as she furiously searched for her favorite pair of jeans Synonyms & Similar Words
- disrupted
- shuffled
- scrambled
- confused
- disturbed
- jumbled
- disarrayed
- tousled
- dislocated
- muddled
- disarranged
- mussed
- upset
- disordered
- snarled
- disheveled
- disorganized
- hashed
- tangled
- rumpled
- disjointed
- discomposed
- deranged
- dishevelled
- embroiled
- entangled
- unsettled
- perturbed
- cluttered
- mixed (up)
- agitated
- messed (up)
- stirred (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ranged
- disposed
- arranged
- ordered
- lined
- organized
- aligned
- adjusted
- tidied
- arrayed
- regulated
- marshaled
- marshalled
- classified
- straightened (up)
- fixed
- lined up
- queued
- alined
- codified
- made up
- drew up
- systematized
- groomed
- methodized
- systemized
- spruced (up)
- unscrambled
4
as in collapsed
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure all we need is one strong wind, and that old barn is going to tumble Synonyms & Similar Words
- collapsed
- crumpled
- went
- buckled
- crumbled
- imploded
- shattered
- melted
- yielded
- foundered
- gave
- died
- crashed
- went out
- flattened
- gave way
- broke
- smashed
- snapped
- cracked
- popped
- failed
- burst
- stalled
- splintered
- deflated
- split
- melted down
- bursted
- caved (in)
- broke down
- gave out
- conked (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rose
- swelled
- inflated