What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
bumble
Example
He bumbled his way through the dance routine, tripping over his own feet. [bumble: verb]
Example
She tends to bumble her words when she gets nervous. [bumbling: gerund or present participle]
stumble
Example
I stumbled on the uneven pavement and almost fell. [stumble: verb]
Example
He stumbled upon a great idea while brainstorming. [stumbled: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stumble is more commonly used than bumble in everyday language. Stumble has a wider range of contexts and can be used to describe physical actions, mistakes, or difficulties, while bumble is less common and is mainly used to describe clumsy movements or unclear speech.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between bumble and stumble?
Both bumble and stumble are generally informal words. However, stumble can be used in a slightly more formal context when referring to making mistakes or encountering obstacles unexpectedly.
