had tumbled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had tumbled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that has already occurred in the past, often indicating a fall or decline. Example: "The stock prices had tumbled after the announcement of the company's poor earnings report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His desk had tumbled into the wreckage.

The New York Times

Futures contracts in Chicago had tumbled.

The New York Times

Bayer shares had tumbled on the news.

The Guardian - Business

Several records had tumbled by the end.

The Guardian - Sport

By early July the price had tumbled to barely $6.

The Economist

Officer Richards, meanwhile, had tumbled out of the way.

The New York Times

By 2010, it had tumbled to 17th place.

The New York Times - Magazine

By the 2008-09 season the also-rans had tumbled.

The Economist

A decade later, their share had tumbled to just 1.6%.

The Economist

By last year, prices had tumbled to 75 cents a watt.

The New York Times

But just above Oliver's right cheek was a scab; he had tumbled while playing tag.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where something's value or status has decreased rapidly, use "had tumbled" to convey a sense of sudden and significant decline.

Common error

Avoid using "had tumbled" when describing a slow, gradual decline. This phrase implies a rapid and often unexpected drop. For gradual declines, consider using phrases like "had gradually decreased" or "had slowly declined".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had tumbled" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It describes an action (tumbling) that was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had tumbled" is a grammatically sound and commonly used past perfect verb phrase, predominantly found in news and media contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to describe an action that was completed before a specific time in the past, typically indicating a rapid or significant decline. While various alternatives like "had plummeted" and "had declined sharply" exist, "had tumbled" carries a nuance of suddenness. To avoid misuse, remember to reserve this phrase for situations involving rapid declines rather than gradual changes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had plummeted

Replaces "tumbled" with "plummeted", emphasizing a rapid and significant drop.

had declined sharply

Substitutes "tumbled" with "declined sharply", focusing on a noticeable decrease in value or quantity.

had fallen drastically

Replaces "tumbled" with "fallen drastically", highlighting a severe fall from a previous level.

had dropped significantly

Substitutes "tumbled" with "dropped significantly", indicating a notable reduction or descent.

had decreased substantially

Replaces "tumbled" with "decreased substantially", focusing on a major reduction in amount or degree.

had collapsed

Uses "collapsed" instead of "tumbled", suggesting a sudden and complete failure or fall.

had plunged

Replaces "tumbled" with "plunged", emphasizing a sudden and dramatic downward movement.

had nosedived

Substitutes "tumbled" with "nosedived", implying a steep and rapid decline, often used in financial contexts.

had taken a downturn

Replaces "tumbled" with "taken a downturn", focusing on a shift towards a negative or declining trend.

had depreciated

Uses "depreciated" instead of "tumbled", often referring to a decrease in value, particularly in economic contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "had tumbled" in a sentence?

You can use "had tumbled" to describe a sudden and significant decline. For example, "The stock prices "had tumbled" after the negative earnings report".

What can I say instead of "had tumbled"?

You can use alternatives like "had plummeted", "had declined sharply", or "had fallen drastically depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had tumbled" or "had fallen"?

Both "had tumbled" and "had fallen" are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "Had tumbled" suggests a more rapid and chaotic decline, while "had fallen" is a more general term for decreasing.

What's the difference between "had tumbled" and "had dropped"?

"Had dropped" indicates a simple decrease. "Had tumbled" implies a more dramatic and uncontrolled fall. For example, "The ball had dropped" vs "The politician's approval ratings "had tumbled" after the scandal".