stumble Definition
- 1to trip or momentarily lose one's balance while walking or running
- 2to make a mistake or error
- 3to come upon something accidentally or unexpectedly
Using stumble: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "stumble" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I stumbled on the uneven pavement and almost fell.
Example
She stumbled over her words during the presentation.
Example
He stumbled upon a rare book in the library.
Example
The company stumbled in its attempt to expand into new markets.
Example
The politician stumbled when asked about his stance on the issue.
stumble Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using stumble
Example
He was so nervous during the interview that he stumbled over himself trying to answer the questions.
Example
Lack of funding has been a major stumble block for the project.
Example
While hiking in the woods, we stumbled upon a beautiful waterfall.
Phrases with stumble
Example
I stumbled across an old photo album in the attic.
Example
He stumbled into a career in finance after taking a temporary job at a bank.
to do something with difficulty or clumsiness, often due to lack of preparation or skill
Example
She stumbled through her first few piano lessons, but eventually improved with practice.
Origins of stumble
from Middle Low German 'stummelen', meaning 'to stumble'
Summary: stumble in Brief
To 'stumble' [ˈstʌmbl] is to lose one's balance while walking or running, make a mistake or error, or come upon something accidentally or unexpectedly. It can refer to physical or metaphorical situations, as in 'She stumbled over her words during the presentation.' 'Stumble' also appears in phrases like 'stumble across,' meaning to find something by chance, and idioms like 'stumble block,' referring to an obstacle that prevents progress or success.