Word
wobbling
Phoneticswob·bling
US/ˈwɑbəɫɪŋ/
UK/wˈɒblɪŋ/
Definition
v. to move from side to side in an unsteady way, as if you might fall.
v. to move unsteadily from side to side; to shake or oscillate without holding firm.
Examples
“The old table is wobbling on the uneven floor.”
“The toddler takes a few wobbling steps across the living room while his parents watch closely.”
“The cyclist kept riding despite the wobbling front wheel, which threatened to give way on every sharp turn of the mountain road.”
Examples
simple
“The old table is wobbling on the uneven floor.”
contextual
“The toddler takes a few wobbling steps across the living room while his parents watch closely.”
complex
“The cyclist kept riding despite the wobbling front wheel, which threatened to give way on every sharp turn of the mountain road.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “wobbling” in context.
Verb
01. bike wobbles
“My bike wobbles a bit when I ride with no hands.”
noun + verb
02. legs wobble
“My legs wobbled after the long run up the hill.”
noun + verb
03. make wobble
“The loose wheel made the whole bike wobble on the road.”
verb + verb
04. start wobble
“The washing machine started to wobble during the spin cycle.”
verb + verb
05. stop wobble
“He held the chair to stop it wobbling during the meeting.”
verb + verb
06. table wobbles
“The table wobbles every time someone leans on it.”
noun + verb
07. voice wobbles
“Her voice wobbled as she tried not to cry on stage.”
noun + verb
Adjective
08. wobble dangerously
“The ladder started to wobble dangerously in the strong wind.”
verb + adverb
Noun
09. wobble on legs
“The newborn calf wobbled on its legs in the field.”
verb + prep + noun
10. make the table wobble
“Don't lean on it, you'll make the table wobble.”
11. start to wobble dangerously
“The bookshelf started to wobble dangerously during the earthquake.”
12. wobble from side to side
“The bus wobbled from side to side on the rough road.”
Usage
Intransitive in its usual sense; describes unsteady motion with no direct object.
Real-World Examples
“Cars wobble as they take a hit, petrol stations explode and pillars crumble like the Matrix corridor scene.” “Sometimes, however, the polar vortex can wobble, weaken or even reverse direction.” “The planet spins, the tectonic plates shift and the spin axis wobbles, as do the magnetic poles, which makes determining how things move a rather tricky proposition.” “This indicates the central black hole's spin axis is slowly "wobbling" over time.” Related words
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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