stumble
verb (used without object)
to strike the foot against something, as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall; trip.
had stumbled
-
past perfectof stumble.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
She said current digs were "really construction projects" where workers had stumbled across historical treasures.
From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026
At the time, the analysts noted that some U.S. consumers had stumbled upon a “real-life arbitrage,” as in certain cases it was “cheaper to fly to Europe than pay U.S. prices.”
From MarketWatch ● May 6, 2026
Welikala had stumbled upon one of L.A.’s more unlikely cultural phenomena: Public Assembly theater.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2026
He told a man that Bromell had "stumbled out in front of the ambulance" and later told others that he had "tripped over himself".
From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2026
The first was that they had stumbled into the market very late, just before its collapse, and after a handful of other money managers.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
