Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense tumbles, present participle tumbling, past tense, past participle tumbled
1. verb
If someone or something tumbles somewhere, they fall there with a rolling or bouncing movement.
A small boy tumbled off a third floor fire escape. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The dog had tumbled down the cliff. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He fell to the ground, and the gun tumbled out of his hand. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: fall, drop, topple, plummet More Synonyms of tumble
Tumble is also a noun.
He injured his ribs in a tumble from his horse. [+ from]
2. verb
If prices or levels of something are tumbling, they are decreasing rapidly.
[journalism]
House prices have tumbled by almost 30 per cent in real terms since mid-1989. [V + by/from/to]
Share prices continued to tumble today on the stock market. [VERB]
...tumbling inflation. [VERB-ing]
[Also V amount]
Synonyms: fall steeply or sharply, fall, decline, crash [informal] More Synonyms of tumble
Tumble is also a noun.
Oil prices took a tumble yesterday.
3. verb
If water tumbles, it flows quickly over an uneven surface.
Waterfalls crash and tumble over rocks. [VERB preposition]
...the aromatic pines and tumbling streams of the Zonba Plateau. [VERB-ing]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: cascade, fall, flow, pour More Synonyms of tumble
4. verb
If you say that someone tumblesinto a situation or place, you mean that they get into it without being fully in control of themselves or knowing what they are doing.
[mainly British]
The whole region seemed to be tumbling into crisis. [VERB + into]
They tumble into bed at eight o'clock, too tired to take their clothes off. [VERB + into]
5. See also rough and tumble
Phrasal verbs:
See tumble down
See tumble over
More Synonyms of tumble
tumble in British English
(ˈtʌmbəl)
verb
1.
to fall or cause to fall, esp awkwardly, precipitately, or violently
2. (intransitive; usually foll byabout)
to roll or twist, esp in playing
the kittens tumbled about on the floor
3. (intransitive)
to perform leaps, somersaults, etc
4.
to go or move in a heedless or hasty way
5. (transitive)
to polish (gemstones) in a tumbler
6. (transitive)
to disturb, rumple, or toss around
to tumble the bedclothes
noun
7.
the act or an instance of tumbling
8.
a fall or toss
9.
an acrobatic feat, esp a somersault
10.
a decrease in value, number, etc
stock markets have taken a tumble
11.
a state of confusion
12.
a confused heap or pile
a tumble of clothes
Word origin
Old English tumbian, from Old French tomber; related to Old High German tūmōn to turn
tumble in American English
(ˈtʌmbəl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈtumbled or ˈtumbling
1.
to do somersaults, handsprings, or similar acrobatic or gymnastic feats
2.
a.
to fall suddenly, clumsily, or helplessly
b.
to fall or decline suddenly, as from power, high value, etc.
c.
to come down in ruins; collapse
3.
to stumble or trip
4.
to toss about or roll around
5.
to move, go, issue, etc. in a hasty, awkward, or disorderly manner
6. Informal
to have sudden awareness or understanding of some situation
with to
verb transitive
7.
to cause to tumble; make fall, overthrow, topple, roll over, etc.
8.
to put into disorder by or as by tossing here and there; disarrange
9.
to whirl in a tumbler (sense 10)
noun
10.
the act or an instance of tumbling
; specif.,
a.
a somersault, handspring, etc.
b.
a fall or decline
c.
a stumble
11.
disorder; confusion
12.
a confused heap
Idioms:
give (or get) a tumble
Word origin
ME tumblen, freq. of tumben < OE tumbian, to fall, jump, dance; akin to Ger tummeln, taumeln < OHG *tumalon, freq. of tumon, to turn < IE base *dheu-, to be turbid > dull
More idioms containing
tumble
rough and tumble
Examples of 'tumble' in a sentence
tumble
Take a serious tumble and you could end up in an orthopaedic ward.
The Sun (2016)
And security staff had to rescue a woman who had taken a tumble outside a venue in the city.
The Sun (2016)
The jump in inflation was almost entirely down to energy, the cost of which tumbled as the oil price collapsed, but underlying consumer prices growth remained weak.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The value of commercial property nationwide tumbled by almost half in a few months.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He has a tumble of blond hair and a button nose.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The value of websites that help consumers find cheaper utility suppliers and insurance has also tumbled.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Look out for the especially sweet one who takes a tumble while clutching a teddy bear.
The Sun (2012)
Get up early and make the most of your tumbling blonde hair.
The Sun (2012)
Debt also tumbled and the group has now expanded its capital investment plans.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some steel prices have also tumbled.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He had also a lot of hair which tumbled over his forehead in heavy locks and made his thin face seem smaller.
Frances Hodgson Burnett The Secret Garden (1911)
We clip it back to 1 billion as asset values tumble.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Overall, there were far fewer deals in natural resources than expected amid tumbling oil prices.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The tumble in the value of the rouble is not just bruising; it is quite unnerving.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
On Wednesday it is expected figures will show unemployment has taken another tumble.
The Sun (2014)
Inflation halved in 1986 as oil tumbled.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But their value tumbled and so he is 500,000 out of pocket.
The Sun (2009)
A shower of unexpected dust tumbled about him.
Hebblethwaite, Peter Paul VI - The First Modern Pope (1993)
House prices tumbled by around 20 per cent in the credit crunch but staged a shock recovery last year.
The Sun (2010)
They had dear little fur coats of their own; and they tumbled about the doorstep and played in the dust.
Beatrix Potter The Tales of Beatrix Potter (1930)
A glut means the commodity's price has tumbled by almost a quarter over the past 12 months.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
tumble
British English: tumble VERB
If someone or something tumbles somewhere, they fall there with a rolling or bouncing movement.
He tumbled down the stairs.
American English: tumble
Brazilian Portuguese: tombar
Chinese: 摔倒
European Spanish: caerse
French: dégringoler
German: stürzen
Italian: ruzzolare
Japanese: 転げ落ちる
Korean: 굴러 떨어지다
European Portuguese: tombar
Latin American Spanish: caerse
All related terms of 'tumble'
tumble to
to understand ; become aware of
tumble down
If a building tumbles down , it collapses or parts of it fall off, usually because it is old and no-one has taken care of it.
tumble-dry
to dry ( laundry ) in a tumble dryer
tumble over
If someone or something tumbles over , they fall, often with a rolling or bouncing movement.
tumble-dried
to dry ( laundry ) in a tumble dryer
tumble-dries
to dry ( laundry ) in a tumble dryer
tumble dryer
A tumble dryer is an electric machine which dries washing by turning it over and over and blowing warm air onto it.
rough-and-tumble
You can use rough and tumble to refer to a situation in which the people involved try hard to get what they want , and do not worry about upsetting or harming others, and you think this is acceptable and normal .
clothes drier
a machine that dries wet laundry by rotating it in warmed air inside a metal drum
tumbler dryer
a machine that dries wet laundry by rotating it in warmed air inside a metal drum
give (or get) a tumble
to give (or get) some favorable or affectionate notice , attention , etc.
Chinese translation of 'tumble'
tumble
(ˈtʌmbl)
n(c)
跌倒 (diēdǎo)
vi
[person, object]滚(滾)落 (gǔnluò)
[water]翻滚(滾) (fāngǔn)
[prices, levels]跌 (diē)
to have or take a tumble跌跤 (diējiāo)
1 (verb)
Definition
to fall or cause to fall, esp. awkwardly or violently
The dog had tumbled down the cliff.
Synonyms
fall
drop
The mysterious object dropped into the ocean and made a huge splash.
topple
He released his hold and toppled slowly backwards.
plummet
roll
The ship was still rolling in the troughs.
pitch
He pitched head-first over the low wall.
toss
The small boat tossed about in the high seas like a cork.
stumble
The smoke was so thick that I stumbled on the first step.
flop
She flopped, exhausted, onto a sofa.
trip up
fall head over heels
fall headlong
fall end over end
2 (verb)
Definition
to decrease in value suddenly
House prices have tumbled by almost 30 per cent.
Synonyms
fall steeply or sharply
fall
Her weight fell as she excerised more and ate healthily.
decline
a declining birth rate
crash (informal)
slide
She had slid into depression.
slump
Net profits slumped.
decrease
plummet
The car plummeted off a cliff.
nosedive
take a dive
drop rapidly
3 (verb)
Waterfalls crash and tumble over rocks.
Synonyms
cascade
A waterfall cascades down the cliff from the hills.
fall
The fisherman fell into the sea during a storm.
flow
A stream flowed down into the valley.
pour
Blood was pouring from his broken nose.
stream
Tears streamed down their faces.
spill
When the bell rings, more than 1,000 children spill from the classrooms.
4 (verb)
Definition
to move in a quick and uncontrolled manner
I love tumbling into my apartment and slamming the door.
Synonyms
hurry
Claire hurried along the road.
rush
Someone inside the building rushed out.
bound
pile
They all piled into the car.
scramble
More than a million fans are expected to scramble for tickets.
scuttle
Two very small children scuttled away.
scurry
The attack began, sending residents scurrying for cover.
5 (verb)
Definition
to disturb, rumple, or toss around
Her hair was tumbled and her nose scarlet with sunburn.
Synonyms
tousle
ruffle
She let the wind ruffle her hair.
mess up
rumple
I leaned forward to rumple his hair.
muss (up) (US, informal)
disarrange
dishevel
make untidy
disorder
muss (US, Canadian)
1 (noun)
Definition
a fall, esp. an awkward or violent one
He injured his knee in a tumble from his horse.
Synonyms
fall
The helmets are designed to withstand impacts equivalent to a fall from a bicycle.
drop
There was a sheer drop just outside my window.
roll
trip
Slips, trips and falls were monitored using a daily calendar.
collapse
plunge
the stock market plunge
spill (informal)
toss
stumble
flop
headlong fall
2 (noun)
her tumble of golden locks
Synonyms
jumble
riot
phrasal verb
See tumble to something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of decline
Definition
to become smaller, weaker, or less important
a declining birth rate
Synonyms
fall,
fail,
drop,
contract,
lower,
sink,
flag,
fade,
shrink,
diminish,
decrease,
slow down,
fall off,
dwindle,
lessen,
wane,
ebb,
slacken
in the sense of drop
Definition
to fall or allow (something) to fall vertically
The mysterious object dropped into the ocean and made a huge splash.
Synonyms
plunge,
fall,
dive,
tumble,
descend,
plummet
in the sense of drop
Definition
the vertical distance that anything may fall
There was a sheer drop just outside my window.
Synonyms
fall,
plunge,
descent,
abyss,
chasm,
precipice
Synonyms of 'tumble'
tumble
Explore 'tumble' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flop
Definition
to fall or move with a sudden noise
She flopped, exhausted, onto a sofa.
Synonyms
slump,
fall,
drop,
collapse,
sink,
tumble,
topple
in the sense of flow
Definition
the advancing of the tide
A stream flowed down into the valley.
Synonyms
run,
course,
rush,
sweep,
move,
issue,
pass,
roll,
flood,
pour,
slide,
proceed,
stream,
run out,
surge,
spill,
go along,
circulate,
swirl,
glide,
ripple,
cascade,
whirl,
overflow,
gush,
inundate,
deluge,
spurt,
teem,
spew,
squirt,
purl,
well forth
in the sense of pile
Definition
to move in a group, often in a hurried manner
They all piled into the car.
Synonyms
crowd,
pack,
charge,
rush,
climb,
flood,
stream,
crush,
squeeze,
jam,
flock,
shove
in the sense of pitch
Definition
to slope or fall forwards or downwards
He pitched head-first over the low wall.
Synonyms
fall,
drop,
plunge,
dive,
stagger,
tumble,
topple,
plummet,
fall headlong,
(take a) nosedive
in the sense of plummet
Definition
to drop down; plunge
The car plummeted off a cliff.
Synonyms
plunge,
fall,
drop,
crash,
tumble,
swoop,
stoop,
nosedive,
descend rapidly
in the sense of plunge
Definition
a pitching motion
the stock market plunge
Synonyms
fall,
crash (informal),
slump,
drop,
tumble
in the sense of pour
Definition
to flow or cause to flow out in a stream
Blood was pouring from his broken nose.
Synonyms
flow,
stream,
run,
course,
rush,
emit,
cascade,
gush,
spout,
spew
in the sense of roll
Definition
(of a ship or aircraft) to turn from side to side around the longitudinal axis
The ship was still rolling in the troughs.
Synonyms
toss,
rock,
lurch,
reel,
tumble,
sway,
wallow,
billow,
swing,
welter
in the sense of ruffle
Definition
to disturb the smoothness of
She let the wind ruffle her hair.
Synonyms
disarrange,
disorder,
wrinkle,
mess up,
rumple,
tousle,
derange,
discompose,
dishevel,
muss (US, Canadian)
in the sense of rumple
Definition
to make or become crumpled or dishevelled
I leaned forward to rumple his hair.
Synonyms
ruffle,
crush,
disorder,
dishevel,
wrinkle,
crease,
crumple,
screw up,
mess up,
pucker,
crinkle,
scrunch,
tousle,
derange,
muss (US, Canadian)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rush
Definition
to move or do very quickly
Someone inside the building rushed out.
Synonyms
hurry,
run,
race,
shoot,
fly,
career,
speed,
tear,
dash,
sprint,
scramble,
bolt,
dart,
hasten,
scurry,
stampede,
lose no time,
make short work of,
burn rubber (informal),
make haste,
hotfoot
in the sense of scramble
Definition
to compete with others in a rough and undignified way
More than a million fans are expected to scramble for tickets.
Synonyms
strive,
rush,
contend,
vie,
run,
push,
hasten,
jostle,
jockey for position,
make haste
in the sense of scurry
Definition
to run quickly with short steps
The attack began, sending residents scurrying for cover.
Synonyms
hurry,
race,
dash,
fly,
sprint,
dart,
whisk,
skim,
beetle,
scud,
scuttle,
scoot,
scamper
in the sense of scuttle
Definition
to run with short quick steps
Two very small children scuttled away.
Synonyms
run,
scurry,
scamper,
rush,
hurry,
scramble,
hare (British, informal),
bustle,
beetle,
scud,
hasten,
scoot,
scutter (British, informal)
in the sense of slide
Definition
to go (into a specified condition) gradually
She had slid into depression.
Synonyms
fall,
drop,
descend,
decline,
deteriorate,
degenerate,
slip
in the sense of slump
Definition
(of commercial activity or prices) to decline suddenly
Net profits slumped.
Synonyms
fall,
decline,
sink,
plunge,
crash,
collapse,
slip,
deteriorate,
fall off,
plummet,
go downhill (informal),
reach a new low
in the sense of spill
Definition
(of large numbers of people) to come out of a place
When the bell rings, more than 1,000 children spill from the classrooms.
Synonyms
emerge,
flood,
pour,
mill,
stream,
surge,
swarm,
crowd,
teem
in the sense of spill
Definition
a fall from a motorbike, bike, or horse, esp. in a competition
Synonyms
fall,
accident,
tumble,
cropper (informal)
in the sense of stream
Definition
to pour in a continuous flow
Tears streamed down their faces.
Synonyms
flow,
run,
pour,
course,
issue,
flood,
shed,
spill,
emit,
glide,
cascade,
gush,
spout
in the sense of stumble
Definition
to trip and almost fall while walking or running
The smoke was so thick that I stumbled on the first step.
Synonyms
trip,
fall,
slip,
reel,
stagger,
falter,
flounder,
lurch,
come a cropper (informal),
lose your balance,
blunder about
Additional synonyms
in the sense of topple
Definition
to fall over or cause (something) to fall over, esp. from a height
He released his hold and toppled slowly backwards.
Synonyms
fall over,
fall,
collapse,
tumble,
overturn,
capsize,
totter,
tip over,
keel over,
overbalance,
fall headlong
in the sense of toss
Definition
to fling or be flung about, esp. in a violent way
The small boat tossed about in the high seas like a cork.
Synonyms
heave,
labour,
rock,
roll,
pitch,
lurch,
jolt,
wallow
in the sense of trip
Definition
a false step
Slips, trips and falls were monitored using a daily calendar.