stutter

American  

[stuht-er] / ˈstʌt ər /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to speak in such a way that the rhythm is interrupted by repetitions, blocks or spasms, or prolongations of sounds or syllables, sometimes accompanied by contortions of the face and body.

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noun

1. disordered speech production characterized principally by blocks or spasms interrupting the rhythm.

stutter British  

/ ˈstʌtə /

verb

1. to speak (a word, phrase, etc) with recurring repetition of consonants, esp initial ones

2. to make (an abrupt sound) repeatedly

   the gun stuttered

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noun

1. the act or habit of stuttering

2. a stuttering sound

stutter Scientific  

/ stŭt′ər /

1. A speech disorder characterized by spasmodic repetition of the initial consonant or syllable of words and frequent pauses or prolongation of sounds.

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Usage

What does stutter mean? Stutter is to speak in a way in which the flow of speech is interrupted by repetitions, blocks, or prolonged sounds, as in He became so nervous that he started to stutter.Stutter also refers to this distortion of speech, as in My uncle was talking to the man with a stutter.The most commonly known form of stuttering is repetitions, either of partial words, as in I n-n-n-need water, or entire words, as in My-my-my back hurts.Two other forms of stuttering include prolonged sounds or syllables, as in Sssssshe is nice to me or blocks, which are stops when a person is struggling to get a word out.The word stammer is often used as a synonym for stutter, especially to describe temporary breaks in speech. However, stutter describes a wider range of speech distortions.Example: The girl hated speaking in front of the class because her shyness made her stutter and repeat her words.

Related Words

See stammer.

Other Word Forms

• stutterer noun
• stuttering noun
• stutteringly adverb
• unstuttered adjective
• unstuttering adjective

Etymology

Origin of stutter

First recorded in 1520–30; earlier stut ( Middle English stutten “to stutter”) + -er ⁶; compare Dutch stotteren, Middle Low German stotern in the same sense

Example Sentences

Russia's economy grew by one percent in 2025, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, marking a much slower expansion compared to the 2024 figure as it stutters under the burden of the Ukraine war.

From Barron's

Now, though, the arrow twitched; it appeared to stutter, juddering back and forth—and then began to spin, slowly and then faster, until it was vibrating in her hand.

From Literature

AFP met Eric, from Togo, on the stairs while he was chatting -- in stuttering Russian -- with a Nigerian and Chinese inmate.

From Barron's

A jittery Madison Keys got the defence of her Australian Open crown off to a stuttering start Tuesday, losing the first four games before rallying to stay in the title hunt.

From Barron's

Stammering, also known as a stutter, is a difference in the way some people speak which can cause them to repeat sounds or words, according to the charity Stamma.

From BBC

Related Words

• sputter
• stammer