falter

American  

[fawl-ter] / ˈfɔl tər /

verb (used without object)

• falters,
  present (3rd person singular)
• faltered,
  past participle,  past
• faltering
  present participle

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)

• falters,
  present (3rd person singular)
• faltered,
  past participle,  past
• faltering
  present participle

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• faltering
  present
• faltered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• falter
  simple
• falters
  simple
• have faltered
  perfect
• has faltered
  perfect
• am faltering
  progressive
• are faltering
  progressive
• is faltering
  progressive
• have been faltering
  perfect progressive
• has been faltering
  perfect progressive

Past

• faltered
  simple
• had faltered
  perfect
• was faltering
  progressive
• were faltering
  progressive
• had been faltering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will falter
  simple
• will have faltered
  perfect
• will be faltering
  progressive
• will have been faltering
  perfect progressive

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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”

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

falter falters faltered faltering

But by following year, the nonprofit’s finances had begun to falter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

Did my frugal mindset falter for vintage dresses, bookstore runs and glasses of tinto de verano while I was abroad?

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026

Airports close because ash interferes with aircraft and other transport networks falter.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

An absorbing contest featuring some sensational points saw the Americans fight back again in the decider, only to falter from a commanding lead in the tie-break.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

“My dear, nothing can comfort me like this,” he answered, with a falter in his voice, and both arms round her, as if he too, needed help, and did not fear to ask for it.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

BBC Eye Investigations has spent time with Raseel across the summer, as the ceasefire falters and bombardment continues, to see the challenges doctors are facing in Gaza.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

It’s the one place where her otherwise robust public display of compliance falters.

From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026

And how vulnerable will the global economy be if this critical engine of demand falters?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Economists and the IMF warn that the global economy could be vulnerable if the AI-led demand engine falters or slows down.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

My voice falters at the lie, but since I can't very well tell him the truth, I rush on.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

As on day one and two, Australia have held firm and their opponents faltered.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Gold prices have faltered, falling back from record highs earlier this year and sliding further in recent months amid rising bond yields and rate-hike uncertainty.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

They inexplicably faltered, leaving the door open for somebody else.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

With 1,884 yards, 18 touchdowns and only one interception while completing 75% of his passes this season, Orange High’s junior quarterback has rarely faltered when dropping back.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

Then, it faltered, as if much surprised, and uttered my name, and I cried out,—

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Meanwhile, the annual checkup, long the cornerstone of preventive care, is faltering.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

This makes the recent fall in the markets more worrying - since households, already struggling from a weak job market, high inflation and faltering consumption, are now seeing their equity savings take a beating too.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

The grandees of Gullen have set their hopes on Claire’s bankrolling their faltering community’s recovery.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

Even record-breaking monthly revenue from the world’s biggest chip manufacturer isn’t reviving the faltering AI trade.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

After the first few words, his voice grew steady, and he read the letter through without faltering.

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt

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Related Words

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