stumbled; stumbling
ˈstəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to fall into sin or waywardness
b
: to make an error : blunder
c
: to come to an obstacle to belief
2
: to trip in walking or running
3
a
: to walk unsteadily or clumsily
b
: to speak or act in a hesitant or faltering manner
4
a
: to come unexpectedly or by chance
stumble onto the truth
b
: to fall or move carelessly
Examples of stumble in a Sentence
Verb
I stumbled on the uneven pavement.
The horse stumbled and almost fell.
He stumbled drunkenly across the room.
He stumbled over to the table.
I heard him stumble over the unfamiliar words.
She stumbled through an apology.
The economy has stumbled in recent months.
Noun
was his hurtful remark a regrettable stumble, or was it made with artful intention?
has bones so brittle that a minor stumble could result in a serious break
Recent Examples on the Web
Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Then in 2022, with escalating inflation and consumer pressure, the stock stumbled again with a 63% drop.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2025
Ford started his speech by quipping about his recent stumble down the steps of Air Force One during a visit to Salzburg, Austria.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumble
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Verb
Scott made the turn at even-par but a bogey-bogey-double bogey stumble from holes Nos. 14-16 ended his tournament.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Then in 2022, with escalating inflation and consumer pressure, the stock stumbled again with a 63% drop.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
Noun
Energy Guardian scored a dramatic knockdown in the first round, and despite a late stumble from Armored Mulan, Energy Guardian secured the win.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2025
Ford started his speech by quipping about his recent stumble down the steps of Air Force One during a visit to Salzburg, Austria.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumble
Cite this Entry
“Stumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stumble. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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