This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
stumble
[ stuhm-buhl ]
/ ˈstʌm bəl /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
verb (used without object), stum·bled, stum·bling.
verb (used with object), stum·bled, stum·bling.
to cause to stumble; trip.
to give pause to; puzzle or perplex.
noun
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Origin of stumble
1275–1325; Middle English stumblen; cognate with Norwegian stumla to grope and stumble in the dark; akin to stammer
OTHER WORDS FROM stumble
stumbler, nounstum·bling·ly, adverbun·stum·bling, adjectiveWords nearby stumble
stukkend, stull, St. Ulmo's fire, stultify, stum, stumble, stumble across, stumblebum, stumbling block, stumer, stump
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use stumble in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for stumble
stumble
/ (ˈstʌmbəl) /
verb (intr)
noun
a false step, trip, or blunder
the act of stumbling
Derived forms of stumble
stumbler, nounstumbling, adjectivestumblingly, adverbWord Origin for stumble
C14: related to Norwegian stumla, Danish dialect stumle; see stammer
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012