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

Championship teams don’t stumble this badly, not twice in nine games, and you have to start wondering.

From Los Angeles Times

This isn’t a piece you stumble upon by accident.

From Los Angeles Times

"I managed to stumble my way through it, and I learned from really good people alongside me who were incredibly helpful in the early days."

From BBC

"Liverpool at some point are going to stumble and they will have injury problems like every other team."

From BBC

Later, President Joe Biden made a stumble of his own while talking to a group of Latino allies.

From Salon

Related Words

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