stumble
verb (used without object)
to strike the foot against something, as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall; trip.
stumbled
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past participleof stumble.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof stumble.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
stumbleverb (used without object)to strike the foot against something, as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall; trip.
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.
Christopher Hawley was 22 when he rode X2, stumbled after getting off of it, lost consciousness and died shortly thereafter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
She started with her maternal grandmother and worked her way back through time using public archives in the Netherlands until she stumbled upon a painter she had never heard of: Jeremias Schultz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
While the U.S. stock market has sometimes stumbled this year after Treasury yields’ sudden bursts higher, Kourkafas sees economic growth and a rotation into tech helping the S&P 500 digest higher rates.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 26, 2026
For years, many assumed they had stumbled upon a government checkpoint, and that the abduction of the journalist had been opportunistic.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
They stumbled out onto Nicole’s road, bruised, cut, scraped, and out of breath, but they were alive, for which they were all very grateful.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
