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
Synonyms
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
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2025
Matthias Schmidt, founder of Schmidt Automotive Research, said BYD’s plans for Germany have stumbled as EV sales slumped after government incentives were removed.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2025
There will be stumbles along the way to implementing AI in healthcare, and minimizing those stumbles will require critical eyes as usage continues to grow.
—Trenor Williams, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stumble 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Verb
Both players refused to release the ball in an epic battle for possession, the players stumbling toward the TCU student section.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2025
Matthias Schmidt, founder of Schmidt Automotive Research, said BYD’s plans for Germany have stumbled as EV sales slumped after government incentives were removed.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
That can make the AI energy gamble seem less like a logical bet and more like a cynical stumble into an oncoming fire.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2025
There will be stumbles along the way to implementing AI in healthcare, and minimizing those stumbles will require critical eyes as usage continues to grow.
—Trenor Williams, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stumble
Dictionary Entries Near stumble
Cite this Entry
“Stumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stumble. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
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