stumble

[ stuhm-buhl ]

verb (used without object)

, stum·bled, stum·bling.

1. to strike the foot against something, as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall; trip.
2. to walk or go unsteadily:

   to stumble down a dark passage.

3. to make a slip, mistake, or blunder, especially a sinful one:

   to stumble over a question; to stumble and fall from grace.

4. to proceed in a hesitating or blundering manner, as in action or speech (often followed by along ).
5. to discover or meet with accidentally or unexpectedly (usually followed by on, upon, or across ):

   They stumbled on a little village.

6. to falter or hesitate, as at an obstacle to progress or belief.

verb (used with object)

, stum·bled, stum·bling.

1. to cause to stumble; trip.
2. to give pause to; puzzle or perplex.

noun

1. the act of stumbling.
2. a moral lapse or error.
3. a slip or blunder.

stumble

/ ˈstʌmbəl /

verb

1. to trip or fall while walking or running
2. to walk in an awkward, unsteady, or unsure way
3. to make mistakes or hesitate in speech or actions
4. foll byacross or upon to come (across) by accident
5. to commit a grave mistake or sin

noun

1. a false step, trip, or blunder
2. the act of stumbling

Derived Forms

• ˈstumbler, noun
• ˈstumblingly, adverb
• ˈstumbling, adjective

Other Words From

• stumbler noun
• stumbling·ly adverb
• un·stumbling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stumble¹

1275–1325; Middle English stumblen; cognate with Norwegian stumla to grope and stumble in the dark; akin to stammer

Word History and Origins

Origin of stumble¹

C14: related to Norwegian stumla, Danish dialect stumle; see stammer

Example Sentences

Cassandra, who stumbled on a Facebook article linking cancer and talc following her diagnosis, said it was used on her as a baby and she continued to use it "for 20 years or more".

From BBC

Purely by chance, Janice stumbled across a post on Facebook from Mr Potter's farm, warning people about the scam.

From BBC

The election results show us such stumbles can be excused.

From Salon

Slapstick, for Beckett, who greatly admired Buster Keaton, wasn’t just good fun but a metaphor for our stumbling lives.

From Los Angeles Times

If you stumble during a presentation, you might feel stressed the next time you have to present because your brain associates your next presentation with that one poor and aversive experience.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• bumble
• careen
• fall
• fall down
• falter
• flounder
• hesitate
• limp
• lumber
• lurch
• shuffle
• swing
• waver
• wobble