tumble
TUHMBL
Tumble (verb) means to fall suddenly, often rolling or turning over as it happens. Example: “She tripped on the curb and tumbled onto the pavement.”
verb
1
To fall suddenly, often rolling or turning over as it happens.
"She tripped on the curb and tumbled onto the pavement."
"Prices tumbled after the disappointing earnings report."
noun
1
A sudden fall, especially one where the body rolls over.
"He took a nasty tumble off his bike but wasn't badly hurt."
How to use tumble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo fall over, often rolling as it happens; can also describe prices or values dropping sharply.
Common pairings
take a tumble
tumble down
prices tumble
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Word forms
- Plural
- tumbles
- Third person singular
- tumbles
- Past tense
- tumbled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She tripped on the curb and _____ onto the pavement.
Etymology
From Old English tumbian ("to fall, dance"), related to German taumeln ("to stagger") — describing the uncontrolled, rolling nature of the fall.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for tumble
See all rhymes for tumble →Frequently asked questions
What does “tumble” mean?
The word “tumble” means to fall suddenly, often rolling or turning over as it happens. In plain terms, to fall over, often rolling as it happens; can also describe prices or values dropping sharply.
How do you pronounce “tumble”?
“Tumble” is pronounced TUHMBL (/ˈtʌmbl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “tumble” in a sentence?
Here is “tumble” used in a sentence: “She tripped on the curb and tumbled onto the pavement.”
What part of speech is “tumble”?
Depending on how it is used, “tumble” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “tumble” come from?
The word “tumble” comes from Old English. From Old English tumbian ("to fall, dance"), related to German taumeln ("to stagger") — describing the uncontrolled, rolling nature of the fall.
Is “tumble” a common word?
“Tumble” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “tumble” have?
“Tumble” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fall suddenly, often rolling or turning over as it happens.
