stutter

American  

[stuht-er] / ˈstʌt ər /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to speak in such a way that the rhythm is interrupted by repetitions, blocks or spasms, or prolongations of sounds or syllables, sometimes accompanied by contortions of the face and body.

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noun

1. disordered speech production characterized principally by blocks or spasms interrupting the rhythm.

stutter British  

/ ˈstʌtə /

verb

1. to speak (a word, phrase, etc) with recurring repetition of consonants, esp initial ones

2. to make (an abrupt sound) repeatedly

   the gun stuttered

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noun

1. the act or habit of stuttering

2. a stuttering sound

stutter Scientific  

/ stŭt′ər /

1. A speech disorder characterized by spasmodic repetition of the initial consonant or syllable of words and frequent pauses or prolongation of sounds.

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Usage

What does stutter mean? Stutter is to speak in a way in which the flow of speech is interrupted by repetitions, blocks, or prolonged sounds, as in He became so nervous that he started to stutter. Stutter also refers to this distortion of speech, as in My uncle was talking to the man with a stutter. The most commonly known form of stuttering is repetitions, either of partial words, as in I n-n-n-need water, or entire words, as in My-my-my back hurts. Two other forms of stuttering include prolonged sounds or syllables, as in Sssssshe is nice to me or blocks, which are stops when a person is struggling to get a word out. The word stammer is often used as a synonym for stutter, especially to describe temporary breaks in speech. However, stutter describes a wider range of speech distortions. Example: The girl hated speaking in front of the class because her shyness made her stutter and repeat her words.

Related Words

See stammer.

Other Word Forms

• stutterer noun
• stuttering noun
• stutteringly adverb
• unstuttered adjective
• unstuttering adjective

Etymology

Origin of stutter

First recorded in 1520–30; earlier stut ( Middle English stutten “to stutter”) + -er ⁶; compare Dutch stotteren, Middle Low German stotern in the same sense

Explanation

If you've ever heard a young child stammer and trip over his words, you know what it means to stutter. Use the verb stutter when someone gets stuck on certain word sounds, either because she's speaking too quickly or eagerly, or because she has an actual speech disorder, also called a stutter. The word itself is somewhat onomatopoeic — a word that sounds like what it means — with its repeated t sounds. Stutter is thought to be related to the Middle Low German word stoten, "to knock or strike against," which is the way a stutterer's words sometimes sound.

Example Sentences

As major U.S. stock indexes buckle and stutter, many advisors are turning their attention to moves that can help shave back tax bills for 2026 or in future years.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

Stammering, also known as a stutter, is a difference in the way some people speak which can cause them to repeat sounds or words, according to the charity Stamma.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

As a child, I was severely dyslexic and developed a stutter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

One of his first noticeable symptoms was a stutter, his wife Emma Heming Willis has said in interviews; he now has minimal language ability.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 7, 2025

Deoch continued, “She was just as restless then, and wild. Just as pretty, prone to startle the eye and stutter the heart.”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• sputter
• stammer