Jumble Meaning
/ˈd͡ʒʌmbəl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo mix or confuse.
verbTo meet or unite in a confused way.
Sentence Examples
My things are all in a jumble.
Google and library databases jumble different forms of information together.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the party, the toys were left in a chaotic ____ on the living room carpet.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old papers were in a ____ at the bottom of the drawer, and it took a long time to sort them out.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English jumbelen, alteration of jumbren, jombren, a variant of jumpren, frequentative of jumpen (“to jump”), equal to jump + -le. More at jumber, jump, jumper.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Why dost thou blend and jumble such inconsistencies together?"
— a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number)”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831, →OCLC:
"Every clime and age jumbled together."
— 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Prologue”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
"His voice was rich and mellow and he had so long been thoroughly persuaded of the weight and import to mankind of any word he said that his words really had come to sound as if there were something in them. But now he can only whisper, and what he whispers sounds like what it is—mere jumble and jargon."
— 1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC:
"The bufferbeam is another factor that must be carefully considered. The buffing and coupling centre is 3ft 5½in above rail level and the beam carries not only buffers and drawgear but a jumble of train connections such as jumpers and pipes."
— 1961 May, B. A. Haresnape, “Design on the railway: Part Three”, in Trains Illustrated, page 301:
"The newspaper letters, all capitals, made up a jumble of typefaces."
— 2017, David Stout, A Child is Missing:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the party, the toys were left in a chaotic ____ on the living room carpet.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old papers were in a ____ at the bottom of the drawer, and it took a long time to sort them out.