1 B2 neutral
To fall or roll together in a disorganised, chaotic manner.
"The children tumbled together in a laughing heap at the bottom of the slide."
inseparable
tumble together
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To fall, roll, or move together in a chaotic or uncontrolled way; to become mixed up together in disorder.
In plain English
To roll or fall together in a messy, mixed-up way.
What does "tumble together" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
(figurative) Of thoughts, events, or feelings: to become mixed or confused together.
"All those memories tumbled together in his mind as he read the old diary."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To roll or fall while moving toward the same place as others.
Actually means
To roll or fall together in a messy, mixed-up way.
Usage tip
Relatively rare. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts to evoke physical chaos or the blending of abstract things (memories, events). Can also describe people falling or playing together in a boisterous way.
Words that pair with "tumble together"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
memories events children clothes together chaos
How to conjugate "tumble together"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tumble together
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tumbles together
he/she/it
Past simple
tumbled together
yesterday
Past participle
tumbled together
have + pp
-ing form
tumbling together
continuous
Hear "tumble together" in the wild
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