verb
jumble
JUHM-buhl
verb
1
To mix things up in a disorganised or confused way.
"The papers got jumbled together in the move."
"Her thoughts were jumbled after the long flight."
noun
1
A confused mix of things.
"The drawer was a jumble of cables and old batteries."
How to Use Jumble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo mix things together carelessly, or a messy, disorganised pile or mix.
UK vs US
In British English, a "jumble sale" is a sale of used, donated goods — closer to what Americans call a "rummage sale."
Common pairings
jumbled mess
a jumble of ideas
jumble sale
Word Forms
jumbled past tense, jumbles plural, jumbles plural, jumbles singular
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Etymology
From Middle English jumbren, likely a variant of jumpren, related to jump — the sense shifted from "bounce around" to "mix up."