What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
tripped
Example
I almost tripped over the curb while walking home. [tripped: past tense]
Example
She tripped on the uneven pavement and fell. [tripped: verb]
stumbled
Example
He stumbled over the rock and nearly fell. [stumbled: past tense]
Example
She stumbled through her speech, forgetting some of her lines. [stumbled: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stumbled is slightly more common than tripped in everyday language, but both words are used relatively frequently.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between tripped and stumbled?
Both tripped and stumbled are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.
