falter
Americanverb (used without object)
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falters,
present (3rd person singular)
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faltered,
past participle, past
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faltering
present participle
-
to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent, etc.; give way.
Her courage did not falter at the prospect of hardship.
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to speak hesitatingly or brokenly.
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to move unsteadily; stumble.
verb (used with object)
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falters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
faltered,
past participle, past
-
faltering
present participle
noun
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the act of faltering; an unsteadiness of gait, voice, action, etc.
-
a faltering sound.
verb
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(intr) to be hesitant, weak, or unsure; waver
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(intr) to move unsteadily or hesitantly; stumble
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to utter haltingly or hesitantly; stammer
noun
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uncertainty or hesitancy in speech or action
-
a quavering or irregular sound
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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falterernoun
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nonfalteringadjective
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unfalteringadjective
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falteringlyadverb
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nonfalteringlyadverb
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unfalteringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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faltersimple
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falterssimple
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have falteredperfect
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has falteredperfect
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am falteringprogressive
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are falteringprogressive
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is falteringprogressive
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have been falteringperfect progressive
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has been falteringperfect progressive
Past
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falteredsimple
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had falteredperfect
-
was falteringprogressive
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were falteringprogressive
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had been falteringperfect progressive
Future
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”
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.
Vocabulary lists containing falter
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The Diary of Anne Frank
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 3
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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.
See Examples For:
“Without collaboration and transparency, management of this complex issue will continue to falter, and worse, our unhoused neighbors will continue to suffer,” the statement said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
Airports close because ash interferes with aircraft and other transport networks falter.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
It started to falter under the new "three red lines" -- caps for three different debt ratios -- which forced the group to offload properties at increasingly steep discounts.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
That worked against him once the bonanza in AI-related stocks began to falter in July.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
“His name was Jahan. You called him Lieutenant. My sister’s name was Lis. You called her the Little Lioness. My—” For a second, I falter, and Mazen turns around, a muscle in his jaw jumping.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
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
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
State officials say if the more collaborative approach falters and a water agency fails to meet commitments, they still have the option of putting them back under the traditional regulations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
SoftBank would be highly exposed if the AI frenzy falters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
“I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me. If you’re concerned I won’t have time to do the sewing . . .” Mrs. Byrne fixes me with a steady eye, and my voice falters.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
“When one of their pitchers faltered, the next guy came in and picked up the slack.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Businesses have shuttered, hospitals have had to turn to generators that have occasionally faltered, and residents have been scrambling to charge phones and refrigerate food.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
As pensions became scarce, Americans were forced to save for their own retirements — and many faltered.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Despite great regular seasons, the Los Angeles Chargers have faltered in the play-offs but they are now healthy again and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel looks a perfect fit for talented quarterback Justin Herbert.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
“If you don’t want to look at typewriters, you can look at . . .” James faltered for a second.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Its fiduciaries told participants that these assets should “provide greater downside protection in faltering markets, with the tradeoff being slight underperformance in rallying ones.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Meanwhile, the annual checkup, long the cornerstone of preventive care, is faltering.
From MarketWatch ● 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
I might not be able to reliably assess my faltering brain, but here was proof on my wrist.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
