Word
wobbly
Phoneticswob·bly
US/ˈwɑbəɫi/
UK/wˈɒbli/
Definition
adj. moving unsteadily from side to side because something is weak or not balanced. You use this to describe a chair that shakes or a person who feels weak on their legs.
adj. tending to move unsteadily from side to side; lacking stability or physical balance. Often used to describe furniture with uneven legs or a person's physical state when feeling faint or nervous.
Examples
“The old wooden table is very wobbly.”
“I felt a bit wobbly after the long flight, so I sat down for a moment.”
“The toddler took several wobbly steps across the living room before finally collapsing into his father's outstretched arms with a giggle.”
Examples
simple
“The old wooden table is very wobbly.”
contextual
“I felt a bit wobbly after the long flight, so I sat down for a moment.”
complex
“The toddler took several wobbly steps across the living room before finally collapsing into his father's outstretched arms with a giggle.”
Usage
Commonly follows linking verbs like 'feel', 'look', or 'become'.
Etymology
Unknown
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. throw a wobbly
02. throw wobblies
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/wobbly