tumble - Definition & Meaning

tum

ble

Third Person

tumbles

Present Participle

tumbling

Past Tense

tumbled

Past Participle

tumbled

to fall or move in a clumsy, uncontrolled manner, often rolling or turning over

As she lost her balance on the icy sidewalk, she began to tumble.
The clumsy puppy tried to jump onto the sofa but ended up tumbling backward.
Caught off guard by the unexpected obstacle, the cyclist tumbled off the bike and into the soft sand.
As the gymnast attempted a difficult routine, a misstep caused her to tumble awkwardly on the mat.
She tumbled backward after tripping on the step.

Synonyms:

to break apart, disintegrate, or collapse

The old, abandoned house began to tumble as its weakened foundation finally gave way.
After years of neglect, the decaying bridge finally started to tumble into the river below.
The ancient ruins, weakened by time, threatened to tumble as archaeologists explored the site.
As the snow accumulated on the roof, the structure began to creak and finally tumbled under the weight.
The sand cliff, eroded by wind and rain, slowly tumbled into the sea below.

Synonyms:

to roll or turn repeatedly, often in a back-and-forth or side-to-side manner

The children gleefully tumbled down the grassy hill.
After the wave crashed on the shore, the pebbles on the beach tumbled with the water's retreat.
As the logs floated downstream, they tumbled over one another, creating a rhythmic pattern.
The beach ball was kicked high into the air and then tumbled down, rolling to and fro along the sand.
The river rocks, smoothed by years of water erosion, tumbled gracefully with the current.

to make something fall or overturn by pushing, toppling, or applying force

transitive

The mischievous child accidentally tumbled the tower of building blocks by bumping into it.
A strong gust of wind tumbled the stack of papers off the desk and scattered them across the room.
During the earthquake, the shaking ground tumbled the fragile figurines from the shelf.
As the dominoes were set up in a line, a slight nudge accidentally tumbled the entire row.
The clumsy dog wagged its tail enthusiastically, inadvertently tumbling the coffee cup off the table.

Synonyms:

to rotate or flip in a rolling manner while descending or moving through the air

During the aerobatic performance, the stunt plane tumbled through the sky.
The leaves caught in a gust of wind tumbled through the air.
The rock dislodged from the cliff, tumbling end over end before crashing into the valley below.
In zero gravity, the astronaut released a floating object, observing it tumble in the weightless environment.
The snowball gained momentum as it rolled down the hill, tumbling and growing in size.

Synonyms:

to execute a series of acrobatic or gymnastic movements, typically involving flips, rolls, somersaults, etc.

The skilled gymnast effortlessly tumbled across the mat.
The cheerleading squad captivated the audience by tumbling in synchronized patterns.
The circus performer wowed the crowd by tumbling through the air.
The acrobat soared through the circus tent, tumbling with grace and skill high above the audience.

to experience a sharp and rapid decline, decrease, or deterioration

After the economic crisis, stock prices tumbled.
The housing market saw prices tumble as demand decreased and interest rates rose.
Following the product recall, the company's reputation began to tumble.
In the wake of the scandal, the politician's approval ratings tumbled to an all-time low.
As the currency faced inflation, its value started to tumble against other global currencies.

to experience a swift and unforeseen decline, overthrow, or defeat

After a series of failed projects, the company began to tumble in the business world.
The reigning champion tumbled in the final match, losing the title to an underdog opponent.
The powerful empire began to tumble as internal conflicts and external pressures weakened its foundations.
In the competitive industry, the startup faced fierce competition and started to tumble.

to dry clothing or laundry by placing it in a machine that rotates the items in a drum while applying heat

transitive

After washing the towels, she decided to tumble them in the dryer.
The care label on the sweater recommended tumbling it on low heat.
To save time, he opted to tumble his jeans in the dryer rather than waiting for them to air-dry.
The delicate fabrics were carefully placed in a mesh bag before tumbling in the dryer.
The convenience of tumbling clothes in a dryer became evident during the colder months.

to grasp or comprehend the meaning or hidden implication of a situation, idea, or concept

transitive

After a moment of confusion, the audience collectively tumbled to the satirical nature of the comedian's performance.
As the detective reviewed the evidence, he began to tumble to the truth behind the mysterious case.
The employees tumbled to the significance of the CEO's cryptic announcement.
While reading the novel, the readers gradually tumbled to the author's cleverly concealed plot twist.
It wasn't until he reflected on the conversation later that he tumbled to the subtle sarcasm in her remarks.

Synonyms:

to throw or place things together in a disorderly or chaotic manner

transitive

She quickly tumbled her clothes into the suitcase, trying to pack in a hurry before the trip.
The children tumbled their toys into a big box after playing.
As they cleaned up the workshop, tools and equipment were tumbled into the storage bin.
In the rush to leave, papers and documents were tumbled into a folder.
In the laundry room, dirty clothes were tumbled into the hamper, creating a pile of mixed colors.