Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Commission said progress towards major infrastructure objectives had stuttered over the last year "just as the need for acceleration has heightened".
From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2023
But England had stuttered since the 2019 World Cup in Japan, winning matches in prosaic style through 2020 before the wheels came off in the 2021 Six Nations, finishing fifth.
From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2021
A team that had stuttered and sunk beyond the fringes of the title race last term will compete more coherently for the title this time around.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 25, 2012
Hassli didn't score, coming off the bench, but his revived goalscoring form seems to have sparked confidence throughout the team in their goalscoring ability, which had stuttered for a little while there.
From The Guardian ● May 21, 2012
The moment he had stuttered out the news of his elevation in rank, he darted out of the room, crying, "She upstairs there knows nothing about it yet."
From Flower, Fruit, and Thorn Pieces; or, the Wedded Life, Death, and Marriage of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkaes, Parish Advocate in the Burgh of Kuhschnappel. by Jean Paul
