Word
tumble
Phoneticstum·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtəmbəɫ/
UK/tˈʌmbəl/
Definitions
01to fall over
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to fall down suddenly, often rolling or turning over.
v. to fall headlong or end over end, typically in an uncontrolled manner.
“The toddler took a few steps and then tumbled onto the soft grass.”
“The cyclist tumbled over the handlebars after hitting a hidden pothole, fortunately escaping with only minor bruises.”
02to drop in value
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to fall very quickly in amount or value.
v. to decrease rapidly and significantly in value, price, or amount.
“Share prices began to tumble after the company announced its poor results.”
“Market confidence evaporated overnight, causing the currency to tumble to its lowest level against the dollar in three decades.”
03to move uncontrollably
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to move or rush in a messy, hurried, or uncontrolled way.
v. to move, rush, or emerge in a headlong, disorderly, or confused fashion.
“The children all tumbled out of the school bus as soon as the doors opened.”
“A chaotic mix of old clothes and papers tumbled out of the closet when he finally forced the door open.”
04gymnastics
C1 · Advanced Sports Technical
v. to perform jumps, rolls, and other gymnastic moves on the floor.
v. to perform acrobatic feats, such as somersaults or rolls, typically as part of a floor exercise.
“The acrobats tumbled across the stage during the circus performance.”
“She spent years learning to tumble, eventually mastering the complex series of backflips required for the competition.”
Synonyms
05a fall
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a sudden fall, especially one where you roll over.
n. an act of falling, especially in a rolling or headlong manner.
Español:caída
“He took a nasty tumble down the stairs but didn't break any bones.”
“Despite the spectacular tumble during the final lap, the runner managed to get up and finish the race.”
06a messy pile
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary
n. a messy or confused pile of things.
n. a confused or disorderly heap or collection.
“The desk was covered in a tumble of old letters and unpaid bills.”
“The garden was a beautiful tumble of wildflowers and overgrown vines that had been left untouched for years.”
Antonyms
Usage
Intransitive when describing a physical fall or a drop in value; can be used with 'down' or 'over'.
Real-World Examples
“In the Netherlands, results also tumbled to all-time lows.” “Aemet has said July was mainland Spain's joint-hottest month since the start of its figures in 1961, while new temperature records tumbled across swathes of drought-hit Europe.” Etymology
From Middle English tumblen (“to fall over and over again, tumble”), frequentative of Middle English tumben (“to fall, leap, dance”), from Old English tumbian, from Proto-Germanic *tūmōną (“to turn, rotate”). Cognate with Middle Dutch tumelen (whence Dutch tuimelen), Middle Low German tumelen, tummelen, German taumeln and Danish tumle.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. take a tumble
02. tumble on
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/tumble
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0