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to tumble

to tumble

3 3.4
To put things together in a mixed and untidy pile
  • verb
  • /ˈtʌmbəl/
translation icon : amontonar
  • Cupboards and the fridge open, and bottles, food, and plates tumble out.

Examples

  • They'd practically tumbled over each other in their race to her bedroom.

  • An unbidden and jumbled cascade of questions began to tumble in her head.

  • And there is a lot more in the closet, just waiting to come tumbling out.

    Blog text (29)
  • Then, the whole thing tumbled over, and most of its contents came pouring out.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • I decided to put it all in a kitchen garbage bag (doubled) and tumble it all together.

    Blog text (5)
  • The backhoe tumbles the pile several times and transfers it to the back of the lot, where it is shaped into 80-foot-long windrows.

    Academic text (1995)
  • I stood up and a whole heap of napkins, condiments, and Styrofoam plates tumbled to the floor.

Synonyms

to mix
vsto tumble
365 1.0

Change the order of things so they are random

involves forceful throwing or creating a single confused mass rather than just random order
to stir
vsto tumble
152 1.0

To mix a liquid by moving it with a spoon

involves throwing or muddling things together into a confused mass rather than gentle stirring
to toss
vsto tumble
94 1.4

To move about in a violent or restless way

focuses on creating a confused combined mass rather than general violent movement
to scramble
vsto tumble
85 2.6

Mix eggs quickly while cooking until they become soft and fluffy

emphasizes a thrown together, confused mass rather than especially vigorous action
to mix up
vsto tumble
  • Informal
65 2.7

To make people confused and things messy

focuses more on physical throwing or combining into a messy mass
to tangle
vsto tumble
46 3.7

To twist things together so they are hard to pull apart

creates a messy group by throwing or combining rather than by knotting or twisting
to shuffle
vsto tumble
42 3.7

To move things or people from one place to another, often repeatedly

denotes making a single confused mass by throwing or mixing rather than repeated repositioning
to confuse
vsto tumble
38 1.9

Mix things up so their order is not clear

is more physical and about forming a single disordered mass by throwing or combining
to mingle
vsto tumble
34 3.3

Mix together so things join and are hard to tell apart

creates a single chaotic mass by throwing or mixing together rather than gentle blending
to jumble
vsto tumble
22 3.8

Mix things together in a confused way

is about throwing or combining into a confused mass rather than mere disorder
to disorganize
vsto tumble
  • US
4 4.5

To make something lose its order or structure

describes the act of throwing or combining into a confused mass rather than general disordering
to toss together
vsto tumble
  • Informal
2 3.4

Mix a few ingredients quickly without much preparation

implies a more forceful or confused aggregation rather than casual quick combining
to ruffle
vsto tumble
1 4.7

Mix cards so their order becomes random

stresses making one confused mass by throwing or mixing rather than mere random order

Idioms

To fall suddenly, for example by tripping or by losing value

Phrasal Verbs

To use a machine that turns clothes with hot air to remove water

1 7.4

Keep going despite problems and confusion

Compounds

rough-and-tumble
  • Informal
3 7.3

Energetic and rough, not following usual rules

1 2.6

A machine that dries wet clothes by spinning them in warm air

A noisy, rough fight with little care for rules

9.4

A wild grass with thin brush-like seed heads that grows in fields

2.6

A machine that spins wet clothes with hot air to remove water

How Mixed

to tumble
3 3.4
to agitate
9 4.1
to mix
416 1.0
to combine
638 2.7

Surface Forms

tumble infinitive
tumbled past
tumbled past participle
tumbling present participle
tumbles third person singular

Etymology

Tumble comes from an old French word tomber meaning 'to fall' or 'turn over', so when you throw things together they 'fall' into a messy pile. That is why to tumble items can mean to mix or toss them into a confused heap.