falter
Americanverb (used without object)
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to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent, etc.; give way.
Her courage did not falter at the prospect of hardship.
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to speak hesitatingly or brokenly.
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to move unsteadily; stumble.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the act of faltering; an unsteadiness of gait, voice, action, etc.
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a faltering sound.
verb
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(intr) to be hesitant, weak, or unsure; waver
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(intr) to move unsteadily or hesitantly; stumble
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to utter haltingly or hesitantly; stammer
noun
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uncertainty or hesitancy in speech or action
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a quavering or irregular sound
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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falterernoun
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nonfalteringadjective
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unfalteringadjective
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falteringlyadverb
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nonfalteringlyadverb
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unfalteringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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faltersimple
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falterssimple
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have falteredperfect
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has falteredperfect
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am falteringprogressive
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are falteringprogressive
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is falteringprogressive
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have been falteringperfect progressive
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has been falteringperfect progressive
Past
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falteredsimple
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had falteredperfect
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was falteringprogressive
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were falteringprogressive
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had been falteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of falter
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English falteren, of obscure origin; perhaps akin to Old Norse faltrast “to bother with, be troubled with”
Explanation
Falter means to hesitate, stumble, or waver, and everything from faith to voices can do it. So if you want to keep your bride or groom happy, it's best not to falter when it's your turn to say "I do." Experts may falter if you ask them where falter came from, because the origins are pretty unclear. But everyone agrees on the current meaning: someone who falters is unsteady, wobbly, or unsure. You might falter while reciting a poem if you forget some of the lines, or falter crossing a rickety rope bridge when fear gets the most of you. But you certainly won't falter when someone asks you the meaning of this word.
Vocabulary lists containing falter
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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The Diary of Anne Frank
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"British support for Ukraine will not falter," he wrote in the Times in early July.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
Electrical and telecoms equipment, and railway signalling cabinets sometimes falter during a heatwave.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
But cooling demand may falter into next week “and higher production is waiting in the wings in coming weeks,” he adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
Their sales remain robust, as other brands falter and scramble for answers, and Alessandro Sartori has led Zegna since 2016, which feels like an entire lifetime compared to the musical chairs at other brands.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026
The rocks underfoot were slippery and loose, and it was much harder going down than it had been climbing up; but he didn’t falter.
From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
Even when “Stop! That! Train!” falters and the steel of the train tracks starts to shake things too severely, the film is put back on its course by its sheer joy.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
The imitation also falters on practical grounds, if only because AI often gets theology wrong.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
As leadership falters and fewer sectors provide support, the selling becomes more indiscriminate.
From Barron's ● Apr. 2, 2026
As the technology sector falters, other S&P 500 stocks are picking up the mantle — but there’s a caveat to this market rotation.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 4, 2026
Tori’s warning whispers in my memory every time my resolve to keep my mouth shut falters.
From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth
Batter after batter faltered on a sticky surface, with the hosts holding most of their catches in the deep.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
Trade also faltered for a second consecutive month at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
The timing also is fortuitous for Walt Disney Co. at a moment when its other once-reliable franchises such as “Star Wars” and Marvel have faltered.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
During periods of high activity, the Fitbit Air and Oura faltered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026
The pain was intense, and his struggle faltered.
From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi
Dodgers right-hander Edgardo Henriquez was on the mound as their third pitcher in a bullpen game, and his command was faltering, to the tune of back-to-back walks and a wild pitch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
It was a vital victory at the pivotal moment, and saved Washington’s faltering reputation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
France and Germany announced Monday a deal for the joint governance of arms maker KNDS, paving the way for a blockbuster share offering as they seek to reinvigorate faltering European defence cooperation.
From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026
Gregory said the contraction in April "showed the strong start to the year is now faltering".
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
"I remember well my first faltering steps upon the boards," Mr. Pope said.
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
