tumbler

noun

tum·​bler ˈtəm-blər 

1

: one that tumbles: such as

a

: one who performs tumbling feats : acrobat

b

: any of various domestic pigeons that tumble or roll over backward in flight or on the ground

2

: a drinking glass without foot or stem and originally with pointed or convex base

3

a

: a movable obstruction in a lock (such as a lever, latch, wheel, slide, or pin) that must be adjusted to a particular position (as by a key) before the bolt can be thrown

b

: a piece on which the mainspring acts in a gun's lock

4

: a device or mechanism for tumbling (such as a revolving cage in which clothes are dried)

5

: a worker who operates a tumbler

tumblerful

ˈtəm-blər-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Examples of tumbler in a Sentence

She drank a tumbler of water.

a gymnast who's a skillful tumbler

Recent Examples on the Web

There are sizes for the 30-, 40-, and even a 20- and 14-ounce tumbler. —Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 12 Mar. 2025

This beautiful carafe from Amazon has a tumbler that doubles as a lid to keep water or another liquid clean for drinking. —Nora Colomer, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025

Learn the nuances of composting with the eight-sided tumbler composter that sports two chambers and removable doors to add compostable matter. —Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2025

Glassblowers shape molten material into delicate vases and sturdy tumblers. —Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tumbler

noun

tum·​bler ˈtəm-blər 

1

: a person (as an acrobat) who tumbles

2

: a pigeon that often tumbles backward in flight

3

: a drinking glass

a water tumbler

4

: a movable part in a lock that must be adjusted (as by a key) before the lock will open