stumble
[ stuhm-buhl ]
/ ˈstʌm bəl /
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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, adjectiveDictionary.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
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