stutter

[stuht-er]

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.

noun

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

stutter

/ 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

noun

1. the act or habit of stuttering

2. a stuttering sound

stutter

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stutter¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stutter¹

C16: related to Middle Low German stötern, Old High German stōzan to push against, Latin tundere to beat

Synonym Study

See stammer.

Example Sentences

Scotland have tripped, stumbled and stuttered their way through this campaign with all the poise of a sumo wrestler on Strictly Come Dancing, but have managed to carve out positive results.

Read more on BBC

"Five more minutes, and I would have left you," the pilot tells the reporters as they clamber back in, the chopper stuttering up and banking over the town's remains.

Read more on Barron's

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said the pressure of Monday's "knockout" 2026 World Cup qualifier with Slovakia will be the boost his side need after a stuttering campaign.

Read more on Barron's

—Bitcoin edged higher amid a stuttering recovery after the cryptocurrency recently fell below the key $100,000 level for the first time since June.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Inter Milan were handed a 2-1 win at Verona by a late own goal on Sunday to move to within a point of stuttering Serie A leaders Napoli.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• sputter 
• stammer 

When To Use

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.