Definitions

tumble

[tuhm-buhl] / ˈtʌm bəl /

VERB

fall or make fall awkwardly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

descend dip drop flop go down nose-dive plummet plunge sag skid slip slump spill stumble topple

STRONG

disarrange disarray disorder disturb down flatten floor jumble keel level pitch roll toss trip unsettle upset

WEAK

bowl down bring down do a pratfall fall headlong go belly up hit the dirt keel over knock down knock over lose footing lose it mess up take a header tip over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ascend go up increase rise

STRONG

order

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A wheelchair tumble on an L.A. sidewalk has focused attention on badly needed repairs and disabled people’s challenges.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026

She fractured her leg in the tumble, according to The Courier Mail.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Sentiment continued to tumble this month, with concerns mounting over the economy as tensions in the Middle East drag on.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

It’s so much more than software, yet weakness in that segment caused the stock to tumble.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

The evergreen arch wouldn’t stay firm after she got it up, but wiggled and threatened to tumble down on her head when the hanging baskets were filled.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Vocabulary lists containing tumble

Going Down: Synonyms for "Fall"

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The Road to Freedom

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"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 4

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