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
Inside the agency, Dudek, ill-prepared for leadership or for DOGE’s murky agenda, was stumbling through the chaos in part by creating some of his own.
From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2025
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
It was 02:00, and an emaciated man with blood-stained clothes was stumbling towards a nightclub near Tottenham's High Road, in London, seeking help.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2021
And Mutti was stumbling after her, calling for her to stop.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
