Tumbler vs. Cup: What's the Difference?

Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 2, 2023

A tumbler is a flat-bottomed, usually cylindrical drinking container, often without a handle, while a cup typically has a handle and may have a stemmed base.

Key Differences

Tumbler and cup are both containers primarily used for drinking liquids but they differ in their designs and functionalities. A tumbler is usually recognized as a flat-bottomed container and does not normally have a handle. It can be used for a variety of beverages, cold or hot, and it is typically cylindrical in shape. A cup, conversely, generally comes with a handle and is utilized traditionally for drinking hot liquids like tea or coffee.

While tumblers can be created from a variety of materials including plastic, glass, and stainless steel, cups are typically made from materials like porcelain, glass, or plastic. Tumblers, especially those made from insulated materials, are often used to keep beverages at the desired temperature for prolonged periods. Cups, being traditionally associated with hot beverages, are usually lighter and can come with a saucer when made from porcelain or glass.

The design of a tumbler is often more casual and practical, suitable for everyday use and informal settings. Tumblers might come with lids and are particularly handy for on-the-go situations due to their stability and varying sizes. Cups, due to their handles and sometimes more delicate construction, can be associated with more formal and serene settings, such as a sit-down tea or coffee service.

In everyday language, the terms tumbler and cup are sometimes used interchangeably, especially when it comes to disposables. However, it is the presence of a handle and sometimes a stemmed base that primarily distinguishes a cup from a tumbler. Whether for casual or formal use, both tumblers and cups serve essential roles in serving beverages to people around the world.

Comparison Chart

Design

Flat-bottomed, usually without a handle.

Typically has a handle, may have a stemmed base.

Material

Can be made of plastic, glass, or stainless steel.

Often made of porcelain, glass, or plastic.

Use

Suitable for a variety of beverages, practical for on-the-go situations.

Traditionally used for hot beverages like tea or coffee.

Setting

More casual and versatile.

Can be more formal, associated with serene settings.

Temperature Retention

Often insulated to maintain temperature.

Typically not insulated.

Tumbler and Cup Definitions

Tumbler

A tumbler is a drinking container with a flat bottom and no handle.

She filled the tumbler with ice-cold lemonade.

Cup

A cup is a small bowl-shaped container for drinking, typically having a handle.

She cradled the tea cup in her hands.

Tumbler

A tumbler can come with a lid, making it suitable for traveling.

He sipped his coffee from a travel tumbler.

Cup

A cup is often used for serving hot beverages like tea or coffee.

He poured coffee into the cup.

Tumbler

A tumbler is a versatile drinking container used in casual settings.

The child drank water from his plastic tumbler.

Cup

A cup is usually made of porcelain, glass, or plastic and can be accompanied by a saucer.

The porcelain cup had a delicate floral design.

Tumbler

One that tumbles, especially an acrobat or gymnast.

Cup

A cup is a formal beverage container usually associated with serene settings.

She set the table with elegant cups and saucers.

Tumbler

A drinking glass, originally with a rounded bottom.

Cup

A cup’s distinctive feature is its handle, enabling one to hold hot beverages comfortably.

The cup’s handle was adorned with intricate patterns.

Tumbler

A flat-bottomed glass having no handle, foot, or stem.

Cup

A small open container, usually with a flat bottom and a handle, used for drinking.

Tumbler

The contents of such a drinking glass.

Cup

Such a container and its contents.

Tumbler

A toy made with a weighted rounded base so that it can rock over and then right itself.

Cup

Abbr. c. A unit of capacity or volume equal to 16 tablespoons or 8 fluid ounces (237 milliliters). See Table at measurement.

Tumbler

One of a breed of domestic pigeon that characteristically tumbles or somersaults in flight.

Cup

The bowl of a drinking vessel.

Tumbler

A piece in a gunlock that forces the hammer forward by action of the mainspring.

Cup

The chalice or the wine used in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Tumbler

The part in a lock that releases the bolt when moved by a key.

Cup

A decorative cup-shaped vessel awarded as a prize or trophy.

Tumbler

The drum of a clothes dryer.

Cup

(Sports) A golf hole or the metal container inside a hole.

Tumbler

A tumbling box.

Cup

Either of the two parts of a brassiere that fit over the breasts.

Tumbler

A projecting piece on a revolving or rocking part in a mechanism that transmits motion to the part it engages.

Cup

An athletic supporter having a protective reinforcement of rigid plastic or metal.

Tumbler

The rocking frame that moves a gear into place in a transmission, as on a lathe.

Cup

A sweetened, flavored, usually chilled beverage, especially one made with wine

Claret cup.

Tumbler

(archaic) One who tumbles; one who plays tricks by various motions of the body.

Cup

A dish served in a cup-shaped vessel

Fruit cup.

Tumbler

A movable obstruction in a lock, consisting of a lever, latch, wheel, slide, or the like, which must be adjusted to a particular position by a key or other means before the bolt can be thrown in locking or unlocking.

Cup

A cuplike object.

Tumbler

A rotating device for smoothing and polishing rough objects, placed inside it, on relatively small parts.

Cup

(Biology) A cuplike structure or organ.

Tumbler

A piece attached to, or forming part of, the hammer of a gunlock, upon which the mainspring acts and in which are the notches for sear point to enter.

Cup

A lot or portion to be suffered or enjoyed.

Tumbler

A drinking glass that has no stem, foot, or handle — so called because such glasses originally had a pointed or convex base and could not be set down without spilling. This compelled the drinker to finish their measure.

Cup

To shape like a cup

Cup one's hands.

Tumbler

A variety of the domestic pigeon remarkable for its habit of tumbling, or turning somersaults, during its flight.

Cup

To place one's curved hand or hands over or around

Cupped his chin in his hands.

Tumbler

A beverage cup, typically made of stainless steel, that is broad at the top and narrow at the bottom commonly used in India.

Cup

To subject to the therapeutic procedure of cupping.

Tumbler

Something that causes (something else) to tumble.

Yo tumbler

Cup

A concave vessel for drinking from, usually made of opaque material (as opposed to a glass) and with a handle.

Pour the tea into the cup.

Tumbler

(obsolete) A dog of a breed that tumbles when pursuing game, formerly used in hunting rabbits.

Cup

The contents of said vessel.

I drank two cups of water but still felt thirsty.

Tumbler

A kind of cart; a tumbril.

Cup

A customary unit of measure

Tumbler

The pupa of a mosquito.

Cup

(US) A US unit of liquid measure equal to 8 fluid ounces (16 of a US gallon; 236.5882365 mL) or 240 mL.

Tumbler

One of a set of levers from which the heddles hang in some looms.

Cup

(Canada) A Canadian unit of measure equal to 8 imperial ounces (20 imperial gallon; 227.3 mL) or 250 mL.

Tumbler

(obsolete) A porpoise.

Cup

A British unit of measure equal to 2 imperial pint (10 imperial ounces; 284 mL) or 300 mL.

Tumbler

(cryptocurrency) A service that mixes potentially identifiable or 'tainted' cryptocurrency funds with others, so as to obscure the audit trail.

Cup

A trophy in the shape of an oversized cup.

The World Cup is awarded to the winner of a quadrennial football tournament.

Tumbler

One who tumbles; one who plays tricks by various motions of the body; an acrobat.

Cup

A contest for which a cup is awarded.

The World Cup is the world's most widely watched sporting event.

Tumbler

Cup

(association football) The main knockout tournament in a country, organised alongside the league.

Tumbler

A piece attached to, or forming part of, the hammer of a gunlock, upon which the mainspring acts and in which are the notches for the sear point to enter.

Cup

(golf) A cup-shaped object placed in the target hole.

The ball just misses the cup.

Tumbler

A drinking glass, without a foot or stem; - so called because originally it had a pointed or convex base, and could not be set down with any liquor in it, thus compelling the drinker to finish his measure.

Cup

(in combination) Any of various sweetened alcoholic drinks.

Cider cup

Gin cup

Claret cup

Tumbler

A variety of the domestic pigeon remarkable for its habit of tumbling, or turning somersaults, during its flight.

Cup

A rigid concave protective covering for the male genitalia.

Players of contact sports are advised to wear a cup.

Tumbler

A breed of dogs that tumble when pursuing game. They were formerly used in hunting rabbits.

Cup

One of the two parts of a brassiere which each cover a breast.

The cups are made of a particularly uncomfortable material.

Tumbler

A kind of cart; a tumbrel.

Cup

Prefixed with a letter, used as a measurement of bra or breast size.

Tumbler

A gymnast who performs rolls and somersaults and twists etc.

Cup

(mathematics) The symbol

\cup

denoting union and similar operations.

Tumbler

A glass with a flat bottom but no handle or stem; originally had a round bottom

Cup

(tarot) A suit of the minor arcana in tarot, or one of the cards from the suit.

Tumbler

A movable obstruction in a lock that must be adjusted to a given position (as by a key) before the bolt can be thrown

Cup

(ultimate frisbee) A defensive style characterized by a three player near defense cupping the thrower; or those three players.

Tumbler

Pigeon that executes backward somersaults in flight or on the ground

Cup

A flexible concave membrane used to temporarily attach a handle or hook to a flat surface by means of suction.

Tumbler

A tumbler can be a cylindrical container often made from glass or plastic.

He dropped the tumbler, and it shattered into pieces.

Cup

Anything shaped like a cup.

The cup of an acorn

Tumbler

A tumbler is often used for serving cold beverages.

She ordered a whiskey tumbler at the bar.

Cup

A cupping glass or other vessel or instrument used to produce the vacuum in cupping.

Cup

(figurative) That which is to be received or indured; that which is allotted to one; a portion of blessings and afflictions.

Cup

(transitive) To form into the shape of a cup, particularly of the hands.

Cup your hands and I'll pour some rice into them.

Cup

(transitive) To hold something in cupped hands.

He cupped the ball carefully in his hands.

Cup

(transitive) To pour (a liquid, drink, etc.) into a cup.

We are cupping some new brands of coffee today.

Cup

To supply with cups of wine.

Cup

To apply a cupping apparatus to; to subject to the operation of cupping.

Cup

To make concave or in the form of a cup.

To cup the end of a screw

Cup

A small vessel, used commonly to drink from; as, a tin cup, a silver cup, a wine cup; especially, in modern times, the pottery or porcelain vessel, commonly with a handle, used with a saucer in drinking tea, coffee, and the like.

Cup

The contents of such a vessel; a cupful.

Give me a cup of sack, boy.

Cup

Repeated potations; social or excessive indulgence in intoxicating drinks; revelry.

Thence from cups to civil broils.

Cup

That which is to be received or indured; that which is allotted to one; a portion.

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.

Cup

Anything shaped like a cup; as, the cup of an acorn, or of a flower.

The cowslip's golden cup no more I see.

Cup

A cupping glass or other vessel or instrument used to produce the vacuum in cupping.

Cup

To supply with cups of wine.

Cup us, till the world go round.

Cup

To apply a cupping apparatus to; to subject to the operation of cupping. See Cupping.

Cup

To make concave or in the form of a cup; as, to cup the end of a screw.

Cup

A United States liquid unit equal to 8 fluid ounces

Cup

The quantity a cup will hold;

He drank a cup of coffee

He borrowed a cup of sugar

Cup

A small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle;

He put the cup back in the saucer

The handle of the cup was missing

Cup

A large metal vessel with two handles that is awarded as a trophy to the winner of a competition;

The school kept the cups is a special glass case

Cup

Any cup-shaped concavity;

Bees filled the waxen cups with honey

He wore a jock strap with a metal cup

The cup of her bra

Cup

The hole (or metal container in the hole) on a golf green;

He swore as the ball rimmed the cup and rolled away

Put the flag back in the cup

Cup

A punch served in a pitcher instead of a punch bowl

Cup

Cup-shaped plant organ

Cup

Form into the shape of a cup;

She cupped her hands

Cup

Put into a cup;

Cup the milk

Cup

Treat by applying evacuated cups to the patient's skin

FAQs

Can a tumbler be used for hot beverages?

Yes, especially if it's insulated.

Can tumblers have lids?

Yes, many tumblers come with lids, especially those designed for travel.

Are tumblers usually cylindrical?

Yes, tumblers are typically cylindrical in shape.

Do cups always have handles?

While it's common, not all cups have handles.

Is a cup typically heavier than a tumbler?

It depends on the material, but cups can be lighter, especially if made from delicate materials like porcelain.

Can cups come with saucers?

Yes, cups, especially those used for tea or coffee, often come with saucers.

Is a tumbler more casual than a cup?

Typically, yes, tumblers are often used in more casual and versatile settings.

Do tumblers maintain the temperature of beverages?

Insulated tumblers can maintain the temperature of beverages for extended periods.

Are cups and tumblers made from similar materials?

Yes, both can be made from materials like plastic, glass, or porcelain.

Is it correct to use the terms cup and tumbler interchangeably?

While it happens in everyday language, especially with disposables, they have distinctive features, so it’s more accurate to use them specifically.

Can you travel with a tumbler?

Yes, tumblers, especially those with lids, are practical for on-the-go situations.

Can a cup be made of plastic?

Yes, cups can be made of plastic, especially disposable ones.

Can you use a tumbler for alcoholic beverages?

Yes, tumblers are commonly used for serving a variety of alcoholic beverages.

Can a cup be flat-bottomed?

Yes, most cups have a flat bottom.

Are cups suitable for formal occasions?

Yes, cups can be suitable for more formal and serene settings.

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About Author

Written by

Janet White

Janet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.

Edited by

Harlon Moss

Harlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.