jumbled
jumbled — verb
- jumbledpresent simple I / you / we / they
- jumbleds3rd person singular
- jumbleding-ing form
- jumblededpast simple
1. to put a number of things together without any order or system, so that they bec
to put a number of things together without any order or system, so that they become mixed up and messy.
The children jumbled all the puzzle pieces into one big box before the game ended.
jumble + into + [container]: put things together messily
Sivan accidentally jumbled her receipts with her notes and could not find the total.
jumble + with + [something]: mix different things together
Léa jumbled the coloured threads together in her sewing basket and lost the red one.
Feng jumbled up the photos from three different holidays when he emptied the camera bag.
文法句型
jumble + into/with + something
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'up' or 'together' (jumble up, jumble together) to emphasise the disorderly result.
常見錯誤
jumbled — adjective
- jumbledpositive
- more jumbledcomparative
- most jumbledsuperlative
1. consisting of a mixture of different things that are not arranged in any recogni
consisting of a mixture of different things that are not arranged in any recognisable order; confused and untidy.
Theo found a jumbled pile of clothes on his bedroom floor after school.
jumbled + pile / heap / collection
The long flight left Yara's thoughts so jumbled she could barely write.
jumbled thoughts / ideas / memories
A jumbled stack of letters sat on the dusty shelf, some over fifty years old.
Nikos tried to read the jumbled notes his roommate had left on the fridge door.
- messy
broader; can describe dirtiness as well as disorder
- disorderly
more formal; suggests a lack of system or plan
- chaotic
implies wild confusion and a sense of being out of control
用法筆記
This sense often describes abstract things such as thoughts, memories, or feelings, not only physical objects.
常見錯誤
jumbled — noun
1. a disorderly grouping of assorted objects, emotions, or abstract concepts that h
a disorderly grouping of assorted objects, emotions, or abstract concepts that have been thrown together without any system or plan.
On the desk lay a jumble of books, papers, empty coffee cups, and old receipts.
a jumble of + [physical objects]
After the earthquake, Folake could not make sense of the jumble of emotions she felt.
a jumble of + [emotions / feelings / ideas]
Minh gazed at the jumble of cables behind the computer desk and sighed.
The old suitcase contained a jumble of postcards, buttons, dried flowers, and ticket stubs.
- muddle
emphasises confusion and lack of clarity more than physical disorder
- hodgepodge
informal, especially US English; suggests a mix of unrelated items
- mess
general word for any untidy state or situation
- order
a state of arrangement or tidiness
文法句型
a jumble of + [plural noun]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the pattern 'a jumble of + [plural noun]'. The noun itself is uncountable and typically singular.
常見錯誤
2. old or unwanted household items that people give away to be sold, especially at
old or unwanted household items that people give away to be sold, especially at an event that raises money for a charity.
Abigail bought a vintage lamp at the church jumble for only two pounds.
church / school / village jumble — charity sale event
The school asked parents to donate any clean jumble for the fundraiser next Saturday.
donate jumble: give unwanted goods for charity sale
Tara found a nearly new winter coat at the village jumble for her youngest daughter.
Wren volunteered to sort the donated jumble into boxes labelled clothes, books, and kitchen items.
- rummage
mainly US English; a rummage sale serves the same purpose as a jumble sale
- second-hand goods
more general; includes items sold through any channel, not just charity events
用法筆記
Common in British English, especially in the compound 'jumble sale'. In American English the equivalent is 'rummage sale' or 'yard sale'.