stumble
verb (used without object)
to strike the foot against something, as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall; trip.
was stumbling
-
past progressiveof stumble.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
It is a far cry from just a few years ago, when internal Meta research showed that Instagram was stumbling in its attempt to mimic TikTok.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 1, 2026
The drone team turned its attention to the third person, who was stumbling through the brush and making a beeline for the Mexican border.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2025
During a rally outside of Allentown, Penn., on Sunday, the former president was stumbling over his words and rambling incoherently about the battle.
From Salon ● Apr. 17, 2024
Ye had been teasing “Vultures 1” since late last year, and, fitting a pattern that long preceded his recent industry-pariah status, the album’s rollout was stumbling and chaotic.
From New York Times ● Feb. 19, 2024
Then Shadow was stumbling through the brightly lit airport terminal.
From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman
