stumble

[ stuhm-buhl ]

/ ˈstʌm bəl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: stumble / stumbled / stumbling / stumbler 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.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use stumble in a sentence

A small reminder that we can survive small stumbles and even large problems, but only if we work together.
The national anthem reminds us how much Americans need to work together|Fred Bowen|February 17, 2021|Washington Post
So whenever I went uphill, I would tread on its bottom and stumble or pull on its neck.
Recreating Historical Adventures in Old-Fashioned Gear|Ailsa Ross|November 12, 2020|Outside Online
Every few weeks we’re reminded, through some kind of stumble or head-scratching contradiction, that this is our first pandemic.
San Diegans Are Worried, But They Have Not Lost Trust|Scott Lewis and Kara Grant|November 3, 2020|Voice of San Diego
He stumbled a bit in his reelection bid, but the minority leader won Tuesday and then took control of the Senate.
Mitch McConnell’s Big Day: A Turtle Suns Himself|Olivia Nuzzi|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I told them when I stumbled up on that beach in a little while to never forget that WE did this.
From Havana to Hero: Diana Nyad’s 35-Year Quest|Diana Nyad|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Both stumbled in their first presidential campaigns over issues of their service, or lack thereof, in the fight against communism.
How Obama's Shallow Worldview Failed Us|Stuart Stevens|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
NBC stumbled onto a monster of a television show when it gave the green light to Friends in 1994.
Viral Video of the Day: A Friends Reunion|Jack Holmes|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the morning I stumbled down the staircase and choked down a chunky breakfast smoothie.
Aubrey Plaza’s Great Disconnect|Aubrey Plaza|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After relievedly giving the pistol to the nearest soldier, he stumbled quickly over to Brion and took his hand.
Sense of Obligation|Henry Maxwell Dempsey (AKA Harry Harrison)
We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
He walked about in the dark until, all of a sudden, he stumbled into a hole that was filled with dried grass.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
Most of us showed signs, I will not say of being rattled, but of having stumbled against a rattlesnake.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
He stumbled into the room, from which a heavy smell of perfume swept out upon the landing.
Dope|Sax Rohmer

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

stumble

Origin of stumble

OTHER WORDS FROM stumble

Words related to stumble

How to use stumble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stumble

Derived forms of stumble

Word Origin for stumble