ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wobble

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈwɑbəɫ// UK //wˈɒbəl// wob·ble

v. to move from side to side in an unsteady way. You use this when something is loose or about to fall over.

v. to move unsteadily from side to side; to oscillate with an uneven or rocking motion. Often implies a lack of structural stability or balance.


SIMPLE

The old table started to wobble when I sat down.

CONTEXTUAL

The toddler took a few steps, but his legs began to wobble and he sat down on the carpet.

COMPLEX

As the washing machine entered its final spin cycle, the uneven load caused the entire appliance to wobble violently against the kitchen cabinets.

Synonyms
Origin

From earlier wabble (“wobble”), probably from Low German wabbeln (“to wobble”). Compare Dutch wiebelen and wobbelen (“to wobble”), German wabbeln (“to wobble”), Old Norse vafla (“to hover about, totter”).

Usage

The verb is intransitive but can be used transitively when meaning 'to cause something to move unsteadily'.

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