1
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
Examples of tumbler in a Sentence
She drank a tumbler of water.
a gymnast who's a skillful tumbler
Recent Examples on the Web
As far as fall must-haves go, consider picking up this insulated Yeti tumbler that keeps tea and coffee piping hot for hours, then add the Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven to your cart to make your favorite seasonal soups this fall.
—
Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
After decades of simple stemware and minimalist tumblers, wild, eye-catching vessels now adorn stylish tables.
—New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Yeti Rambler 10-ounce Tumbler Small, but mighty, this 10-ounce Yeti tumbler is packed with the premium features the brand’s water bottles are known for—durable stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation, and the signature MagSlider lid.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
One side has a mesh water bottle sleeve with an adjustable elastic cord so your kid’s tumbler won’t tumble out and disappear.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tumbler
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
After decades of simple stemware and minimalist tumblers, wild, eye-catching vessels now adorn stylish tables.
—New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Yeti Rambler 10-ounce Tumbler Small, but mighty, this 10-ounce Yeti tumbler is packed with the premium features the brand’s water bottles are known for—durable stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation, and the signature MagSlider lid.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
One side has a mesh water bottle sleeve with an adjustable elastic cord so your kid’s tumbler won’t tumble out and disappear.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tumbler
Cite this Entry
“Tumbler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tumbler. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share