stumble

Formsstumbles, stumbling, stumbled

Pluralstumbles

1. 1
   verbintransitive

   To trip and almost fall, or to walk in a clumsy, unsteady way.

   Like tripping over your own feet when you cannot see the ground.

   I stumble whenever I walk on the icy path.

   She stumbled over a loose rock and nearly fell.

   Similartrip, stagger, lurch, totter, slip

   Note
2. 2
   verbintransitive

   To find or meet something by chance, without looking for it.

   Like opening an old book and finding money tucked inside.

   We stumbled on a tiny bakery while exploring the old town.

   Hikers sometimes stumble upon hidden waterfalls in these woods.

   Similarhappen, chance, come

   Note
3. 3
   verbintransitive

   To make a mistake or have trouble doing something.

   Like tripping over a word you cannot quite say.

   He stumbled when he tried to read the long word aloud.

   Many students stumble on their first big test.

   Similarblunder

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   A trip or fall, or a bad misstep while moving.

   Like the small jolt you feel when your foot misses a step.

   A sudden stumble sent the books flying from her arms.

   One stumble on the stairs left him with a bruised knee.

   Similartrip, slip, misstep, fall, stagger

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable

   A mistake or blunder in what someone says or does.

   Like saying the wrong name in front of everyone.

   His speech had one small stumble near the end.

   That stumble in the report embarrassed the whole team.

   Similarblunder, mistake, error, slip, misstep

6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To make someone trip or lose their balance.

   Like a string tied low to trip a person walking by.

   The hidden root stumbled the runner halfway down the trail.

   A loose wire can stumble anyone walking through the dark room.

   Similartrip, unbalance, topple, upend

   Oppositesteady, balance

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   A clumsy, unsteady way of walking.

   Like the wobbly walk of someone who just woke up.

   He crossed the room with a heavy stumble.

   Her tired stumble showed how far she had walked.

   Similarstagger, lurch, hobble, totter, shamble

8. 8
   verbfigurativelytransitive

   To lead someone into doing wrong, or to confuse them.

   Like leading someone down the wrong path on purpose.

   False promises can stumble even honest people.

   His clever lies stumbled the young clerk into signing the deed.

   Similarmislead, confuse, deceive, corrupt, lure

   Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 8