# tumble

/ˈtəmbəɫ/ (US) · /tˈʌmbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tumble
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to fall over

verb · CEFR B2

to fall down suddenly, often rolling or turning over.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Often used with 'over' or 'down'.

### 2. to drop in value

verb · CEFR B2

to fall very quickly in amount or value.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Intransitive; frequently used in financial or statistical contexts.

### 3. to move uncontrollably

verb · CEFR B2

to move or rush in a messy, hurried, or uncontrolled way.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Usually followed by a preposition of movement like 'out', 'into', or 'through'.

### 4. gymnastics

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to perform jumps, rolls, and other gymnastic moves on the floor.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Intransitive.

### 5. a fall

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden fall, especially one where you roll over.

For teachers: an act of falling, especially in a rolling or headlong manner.

- 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.

Usage: Commonly used with the verb 'take'.

### 6. a messy pile

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a messy or confused pile of things.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Usually followed by 'of' and a plural or uncountable noun.

## Examples

- The toddler started to tumble toward the soft grass.
- Stock prices began to tumble after the company released its disappointing quarterly earnings report.
- The gymnast managed to tumble across the mat with incredible grace, though a slight stumble at the end cost her a perfect score.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.