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View synonyms for

stumble

[stuhm-buhl]

verb (used without object)

stumbled, stumbling 
  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 byalong ).

  5. to discover or meet with accidentally or unexpectedly (usually followed by on, upon, oracross ).

    They stumbled on a little village.

  6. to falter or hesitate, as at an obstacle to progress or belief.



verb (used with object)

stumbled, stumbling 
  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

/ ˈʌə /

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. to come (across) by accident

  5. to commit a grave mistake or sin

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a false step, trip, or blunder

  2. the act of stumbling

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • stumbler noun
  • stumblingly adverb
  • unstumbling adjective
  • ˈٳܳ noun
  • ˈٳܳԲ adverb
  • ˈٳܳԲ adjective
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stumble1

C14: related to Norwegian stumla, Danish dialect stumle; see stammer
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Meltzer said she pulled over and began taking photos and videos after realizing she had just stumbled upon a federal immigration operation.

From

Finally, they stumbled upon Perfumer’s Apprentice, Hermitage Oils and Pell Wall — material suppliers where you can order the fragrant oils and molecules that make up perfumes.

From

“Dangerous Animals” keenly analyzes the weak points in modern sharksploitation, avoiding spots where most films of its ilk stumble.

From

And that fleeting moment when stumbling across each other's profiles on a dating app can be vital, as Ashley and Joe know.

From

Journalism appeared to have stumbled coming out of the gate but Rispoli dismissed it as a reason for the loss.

From

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