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]
trip
Example
She tripped on the curb and fell down. [tripped: past tense]
Example
We're planning a trip to the beach next weekend. [trip: noun]
Example
The project hit a snag when they encountered unexpected problems. [trip: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stumble is more commonly used than trip in everyday language, as it covers a wider range of contexts and can be used metaphorically in various situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stumble and trip?
Both stumble and trip are relatively informal words and can be used in casual conversations or writing.
