verb (used without object) to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent, etc.; give way: Her courage did not falter at the prospect of hardship.
to speak hesitatingly or brokenly.
to move unsteadily; stumble.
verb (used with object) to utter hesitatingly or brokenly: to falter an apology.
noun the act of faltering; an unsteadiness of gait, voice, action, etc.
a faltering sound.
Origin of falter 1300–50; Middle English falteren, of obscure origin; perhaps akin to Old Norse faltrast to bother with, be troubled with
Related forms fal·ter·er , noun fal·ter·ing·ly , adverb non·fal·ter·ing , adjective non·fal·ter·ing·ly , adverb un·fal·ter·ing , adjective un·fal·ter·ing·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for falter reel ,
flounder ,
hesitate ,
waver ,
wobble ,
totter ,
fluff ,
vacillate ,
halt ,
teeter ,
stammer ,
rock ,
quaver ,
lurch ,
scruple ,
break ,
fluctuate ,
stagger ,
shake ,
topple Examples from the Web for falter Contemporary Examples of falter Every one of those models began to falter within 30 years or so.
Both women now adamantly believe the negotiations will falter and their sons will serve out the rest of their terms.
She was still going strong as she turned 100 and his own health began to falter .
It says that if you falter , the powers that be will more likely see criminality than youthful indiscretion.
The more Palin and Tebow falter , the more rabid their supporters become.
Historical Examples of falter I smiled and held out both my hands to him, and I could see him falter as he looked.
“Not very,” Mr Verloc managed to falter out, in a profound shudder.
I had come and gone twice, and was again sitting by her, when she began to falter .
Was there anything in the forecast of the night that made him falter ?
Still her voice did not falter , and my courage did not give way.
British Dictionary definitions for falter verb (intr) to be hesitant, weak, or unsure; waver
(intr) to move unsteadily or hesitantly; stumble
to utter haltingly or hesitantly; stammer
Show More
noun uncertainty or hesitancy in speech or action
a quavering or irregular sound
Show More
Derived Forms falterer , noun falteringly , adverb Word Origin for falter C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic faltrast
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for falter v. mid-14c., of unknown origin, possibly from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse faltrask "be burdened, hesitate, be troubled"), or a frequentative of Middle English falden "to fold," influenced by fault . Related: Faltered ; faltering .
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
