falter
Americanverb (used without object)
-
falters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
faltered,
past participle, past
-
faltering
present participle
-
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)
-
falters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
faltered,
past participle, past
-
faltering
present participle
noun
-
the act of faltering; an unsteadiness of gait, voice, action, etc.
-
a faltering sound.
verb
-
(intr) to be hesitant, weak, or unsure; waver
-
(intr) to move unsteadily or hesitantly; stumble
-
to utter haltingly or hesitantly; stammer
noun
-
uncertainty or hesitancy in speech or action
-
a quavering or irregular sound
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
falterernoun
-
nonfalteringadjective
-
unfalteringadjective
-
falteringlyadverb
-
nonfalteringlyadverb
-
unfalteringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
faltersimple
-
falterssimple
-
have falteredperfect
-
has falteredperfect
-
am falteringprogressive
-
are falteringprogressive
-
is falteringprogressive
-
have been falteringperfect progressive
-
has been falteringperfect progressive
Past
-
falteredsimple
-
had falteredperfect
-
was falteringprogressive
-
were falteringprogressive
-
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
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Diary of Anne Frank
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
As a result, the biggest threat to cross-asset stability is not high inflation, or tighter monetary policy, but the risk that the AI put might falter.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
Health, nutrition and family engagement have long been core values and some fear that without guardrails the program will falter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
Airports close because ash interferes with aircraft and other transport networks falter.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
As those around him began to falter, the world number one, who started the day three strokes adrift of overnight leader Viktor Hovland, produced a typically metronomic performance with the winning cheque in sight.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
He shut his eyes and remembered her smiling at him and telling him with a wink what her blessing from the old monk had been: May your courage never falter.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
Though Ms. Eleazar never falters in her commitment to the character, the director does.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
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
And while his impartiality occasionally and inevitably falters, the missteps show how difficult, and ultimately useless, it is to ignore humanity’s wide-ranging gray areas to make a beeline for black or white.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 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
When I lean away, she falters, stumbling backward, like I’ve pulled the very earth out from under her.
From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz
When she died in 1981, the business faltered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 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
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
Her smile faltered, but returned with far more teeth than before.
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
Meanwhile, the annual checkup, long the cornerstone of preventive care, is faltering.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 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
Efforts to halt the spread of the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo are faltering as health workers go unpaid.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
The film spells out the gargantuan payouts that each Boeing CEO has received, despite the crashes and questions about their actions and the company’s faltering value.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
His voice hitched and caught as he spoke—gasping, faltering, and stuttering.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
