Phrase guide

tumble on

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To accidentally encounter (a person or situation).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • 1931, E. Phillips Oppenheim, “What Sir Stephen Forgot” in Sinners Beware, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1932, p. 158, (first published as “In the Strongroom” in Collier’s Weekly, 11 April, 1931), “If it isn’t Peter Hames?” he cried. “God bless my soul! They told us over in New York that you were living in these parts, but to tumble on you like this! Why, we only landed here two minutes ago. I call this fine.”

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.