stumble

[ stuhm-buh l ]

/ ˈstʌm bəl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR stumble ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), stum·bled, stum·bling.

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 by along).

to discover or meet with accidentally or unexpectedly (usually followed by on, upon, or across): They stumbled on a little village.

to falter or hesitate, as at an obstacle to progress or belief.

verb (used with object), stum·bled, stum·bling.

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.

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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

stum·bler, nounstum·bling·ly, adverbun·stum·bling, adjective

Words nearby stumble

stuka, stukkend, stull, stultify, stum, stumble, stumble across, stumblebum, stumbling block, stumer, stump

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for stumble

A party that cannot make these decisions openly and confidently will stumble in 2016.
What Republicans Need Right Now Is a Good Internal Fight|James Poulos|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile, the labor unions and liberal groups that nominally backed Cuomo could not be more thrilled to see him stumble.
Andrew Cuomo Can't Ignore It Now: He's Weak Even at Home|David Freedlander|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I stumble through interviews for my job at NY1, memories flooding back.
Gaza, You're No Good For My Marriage|Josh Robin|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wandering around Tribeca, you may stumble upon a decrepit elevator shaft that's full of curiosities.
New York’s Tiniest—and Weirdest—Museum|Nina Strochlic|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Grilled about whether his statements stemmed from racism or jealousy, as he has claimed, Sterling started to stumble.
Donald Sterling’s Insane Attempt at Damage Control Fails Miserably|Nina Strochlic|May 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Adams left the problem as he found it, and came north to stumble over others, less picturesque but nearer.
The Education of Henry Adams|Henry Adams
You stumble, and you cause those whom you guide to stumble.'
The Gospel of St. John|Frederick Denison Maurice
I am fearful of going away, as we may stumble upon some more of them.
Peter Simple|Frederick Marryat
At any moment some servant, rising earlier than his fellows, might stumble upon us, and in his surprise sound the alarm.
Captain Macklin|Richard Harding Davis
“The stumble of the governor might be fortunate for more reasons than one,” thought Edward.
Antony Waymouth|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for stumble

stumble

/ (ˈstʌmbəl) /

verb (intr)

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

(foll by across or upon) to come (across) by accident

to commit a grave mistake or sin

noun

a false step, trip, or blunder

the act of stumbling

Derived forms of stumble

stumbler, nounstumbling, adjectivestumblingly, adverb

Word 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

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stumble

verb (used without object), stum·bled, stum·bling.

verb (used with object), stum·bled, stum·bling.

noun

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Origin of stumble

OTHER WORDS FROM stumble

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Example sentences from the Web for stumble

British Dictionary definitions for stumble

verb (intr)

noun

Derived forms of stumble

Word Origin for stumble

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

stumble

verb (used without object), stum·bled, stum·bling.

verb (used with object), stum·bled, stum·bling.

noun

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Origin of stumble

OTHER WORDS FROM stumble

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Words related to stumble

Example sentences from the Web for stumble

British Dictionary definitions for stumble

verb (intr)

noun

Derived forms of stumble

Word Origin for stumble