What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
lurch
Example
The ship lurched to one side as the waves grew stronger. [lurched: past tense]
Example
He felt a lurch in his stomach as the roller coaster took a sharp turn. [lurch: noun]
stumble
Example
She stumbled over a rock on the path and almost fell. [stumbled: past tense]
Example
He stumbled through his speech, forgetting some of his lines. [stumbled: verb]
Example
The company stumbled in its attempt to expand into new markets. [stumbled: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stumble is more commonly used than lurch in everyday language. Stumble is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while lurch is less common and often associated with specific situations such as boating or sudden changes.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between lurch and stumble?
Both lurch and stumble are relatively informal words, but lurch may be slightly more formal due to its association with technical terms such as nautical or automotive jargon.
