to trip or momentarily lose one's balance while walking or running, to make a mistake or error, to come upon something accidentally or unexpectedly

stumble over oneself, stumble block, stumble upon

stumble across, stumble into, stumble through

Formal and Informal Expressions of stumble

In different contexts, you can replace 'stumble' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'trip, blunder' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'flub, mess up' is a commonplace synonym.

stumble: Explore its Definition & Usage

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

Synonyms for stumble

Antonyms for stumble

Idioms Using stumble

stumble over oneself
to be overly eager or anxious, resulting in clumsiness or mistakes
Example
He was so nervous during the interview that he stumbled over himself trying to answer the questions.
stumble block
an obstacle or difficulty that prevents progress or success
Example
Lack of funding has been a major stumble block for the project.
stumble upon
to discover or encounter something unexpected or valuable by chance
Example
While hiking in the woods, we stumbled upon a beautiful waterfall.

Phrases with stumble

stumble across
to find something by chance or accident
Example
I stumbled across an old photo album in the attic.
stumble into
to enter or become involved in a situation without planning or intention
Example
He stumbled into a career in finance after taking a temporary job at a bank.
stumble through
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'

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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.