What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stumble
Example
She stumbled on the uneven pavement and almost fell. [stumbled: past tense]
Example
He stumbled over his words during the presentation. [stumbled: verb]
Example
The team stumbled in the first half but managed to recover in the second. [stumbled: verb]
fall
Example
She fell down the stairs and broke her arm. [fell: past tense]
Example
He lost his balance and fell off the bike. [fell: past tense]
Example
The company's profits fell sharply last quarter. [fell: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fall is more commonly used than stumble in everyday language. Fall is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stumble is less common and often used in specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stumble and fall?
Both stumble and fall can be used in formal and informal contexts, but fall is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal situations.