stumble
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to strike the foot against something, as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall; trip.
-
to walk or go unsteadily.
to stumble down a dark passage.
-
to make a slip, mistake, or blunder, especially a sinful one.
to stumble over a question; to stumble and fall from grace.
-
to proceed in a hesitating or blundering manner, as in action or speech (often followed byalong ).
-
to discover or meet with accidentally or unexpectedly (usually followed by on, upon, oracross ).
They stumbled on a little village.
-
to falter or hesitate, as at an obstacle to progress or belief.
verb (used with object)
-
to cause to stumble; trip.
-
to give pause to; puzzle or perplex.
noun
-
the act of stumbling.
-
a moral lapse or error.
-
a slip or blunder.
verb
-
to trip or fall while walking or running
-
to walk in an awkward, unsteady, or unsure way
-
to make mistakes or hesitate in speech or actions
-
to come (across) by accident
-
to commit a grave mistake or sin
noun
-
a false step, trip, or blunder
-
the act of stumbling
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stumble
1275–1325; Middle English stumblen; cognate with Norwegian stumla to grope and stumble in the dark; akin to stammer
Explanation
To stumble means to nearly fall by tripping or missing a step. When you walk over uneven cobblestones, it’s easy to stumble, so please be careful. While stumble often means to nearly fall, it can also mean to make a misstep of a different kind. If you stumble over your words, you speak in a stuttering confused manner. Politicians make so many public decisions that they're bound to stumble — make a mistake — occasionally. When you stumble on rare mushrooms, i.e. come across them unexpectedly, be sure have the species verified before you eat them.
Vocabulary lists containing stumble
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act II
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!
Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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!
Steve Jobs's Commencement Address (2005)
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.
You’re probably not going to stumble upon pristine ribeyes here.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
Some signs of stress have emerged, but not enough to suggest a major stumble.
From MarketWatch • May 16, 2026
Chip makers bounced back after Tuesday’s stumble, pushing the Nasdaq composite and S&P 500 to new records.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Instead, they survived the crash only to stumble, separately, upon Craigh na Dun, which transported them to the time, and general vicinity, of Jamie’s parents’ courtship.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
I fling open the door and stumble out of the car.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Definitions 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.
