stumble
verb (used without object)
to strike the foot against something, as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall; trip.
stumbled
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past participleof stumble.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof stumble.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
stumbleverb (used without object)to strike the foot against something, as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall; trip.
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.
Before Quenneville arrived, the Ducks stumbled through a franchise-record seven straight losing seasons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
Nieuwenhuijsen asked her son, Tim de Jonge, who worked in the marketing department of the Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle, to see if Schultz painted anything interesting, and the pair soon stumbled onto Levine’s podcast.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
While the U.S. stock market has sometimes stumbled this year after Treasury yields’ sudden bursts higher, Kourkafas sees economic growth and a rotation into tech helping the S&P 500 digest higher rates.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 26, 2026
The fear is dialled up an extra notch by Byron Bullock's rich sound design, with the music swelling almost unbearably intensely when spluttering nasties stumbled closer.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
He and George stumbled, slipped, and fell down face-first in the snow.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
