falter

American  

[fawl-ter] / ˈfɔl tər /

verb (used without object)

1. to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent, etc.; give way.

   Her courage did not falter at the prospect of hardship.

2. to speak hesitatingly or brokenly.

3. to move unsteadily; stumble.

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter hesitatingly or brokenly.

   to falter an apology.

noun

1. the act of faltering; an unsteadiness of gait, voice, action, etc.

2. a faltering sound.

falter British  

/ ˈfɔːltə /

verb

1. (intr) to be hesitant, weak, or unsure; waver

2. (intr) to move unsteadily or hesitantly; stumble

3. to utter haltingly or hesitantly; stammer

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noun

1. uncertainty or hesitancy in speech or action

2. a quavering or irregular sound

Other Word Forms

• falterer noun
• falteringly adverb
• nonfaltering adjective
• nonfalteringly adverb
• unfaltering adjective
• unfalteringly adverb

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”

Example Sentences

On Friday the overwhelming favourite for the men's gold, Ilia Malinin, faltered in the free skate, along with virtually all the top competitors, but Shaidorov held his nerve.

From Barron's

That strategy faltered when the long lockup investments returned an annualized 7.4% in the three years ended June 30, according to Cambridge Associates—much of it paper gains.

From The Wall Street Journal

As she recounts the shock that engulfed her, her voice grows quieter but never falters.

From BBC

They had underperformed the market so badly for so long that buyers came in to take advantage, especially as some areas of the tech sector have faltered.

From Barron's

But if rates are rising and you are confident in the economy, then holding floating-rate debt could yield outsize returns—but be ready to pivot if the economy falters and rates start dropping.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• flounder
• hesitate
• reel
• waver
• wobble