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

But again, Riggs, now serving to stay in the match, faltered.

From BBC

Time is short and victory far from assured as the economy falters and the population ages, but change did start to happen this year.

From The Wall Street Journal

But small-business profits are faltering, according to an analysis of small-business bank accounts conducted by the Bank of America Institute, which found that earnings are slightly lower than they were a year ago.

From The Wall Street Journal

Arguments over who was the wealthiest person in human history break down the way arguments over sports stars falter.

From Barron's

How and when do you think China might bridge the gap in performance between its technological development and its faltering economy?

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• flounder
• hesitate
• reel
• waver
• wobble