What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stumbled
Example
I stumbled on the uneven pavement and almost fell. [stumbled: past tense verb]
Example
She stumbled over her words during the presentation. [stumbled: past tense verb]
Example
The company stumbled in its efforts to expand into new markets. [stumbled: past tense verb]
fall
Example
He fell down the stairs and broke his arm. [fell: past tense verb]
Example
The company's profits fell sharply last quarter. [fell: past tense verb]
Example
I love the colors of the leaves in the fall. [fall: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fall is more commonly used than stumbled in everyday language. Fall is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while stumbled is less common and more specific to literal situations involving tripping or making a mistake.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stumbled and fall?
Both stumbled and fall are relatively informal words, but fall can be used in more formal contexts to describe a decline or decrease in status or value.
