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

/ stŭt′ər /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈstutteringly, adverb
• ˈstuttering, nounadjective
• ˈstutterer, noun

Other Words From

• stut·ter·er noun
• stut·ter·ing·ly adverb
• un·stut·tered adjective
• un·stut·ter·ing adjective

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

Biden, who has always had a stutter, has clearly lost an additional step in his rhetorical powers in recent years.

From Los Angeles Times

“Yet, when I became another character, in a play, I lost the stutter. It was phenomenal.”

From Los Angeles Times

But those early changes in the Emmy winner’s speech didn’t initially alarm her, she said, as he struggled with a “severe stutter” well into his teenage years.

From Los Angeles Times

Saturday was also the defending champions' first outing and they suffered a stutter of their own, losing four wickets while chasing just 94.

From BBC

In an apocalyptic speech littered with personal insults about President Joe Biden, including mocking his stutter, he said the surge of migrants across the southern border would lead to the plunder of US cities and the violation of its people.

From BBC

Related Words

• sputter
• stammer