tumble dry

verb

tumble dried; tumble drying; tumble dries

transitive verb

: to dry (clothes, fabrics, etc.) by tumbling in a dryer
tumble dryer noun
tumble drying noun

Examples of tumble dry in a Sentence

He tumble dried his clothes on high heat.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Add dryer balls for extra softness, and then tumble dry. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 June 2026 Minimize Heat Air dry or tumble dry on low or no heat. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 26 June 2026 Instead of tumble drying, iron out any wrinkles and hang it to air-dry completely. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026 Shower within two hours of coming indoors and tumble dry clothes on high heat for 20 minutes. — Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tumble dry

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tumble dry was in 1962

Rhymes for tumble dry

See All Rhymes for tumble dry

Browse Nearby Words

tumbledown
tumble dry
tumbledung
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tumble dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tumble%20dry. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tumble dry

verb
tumble dried; tumble drying
: to dry (as clothes) in a dryer
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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