stumble
[ˈstʌmbəl]
To stumble is to trip or fall over something, or to make a clumsy mistake.
When we use the word "stumble", we usually mean that someone accidentally did something silly or didn't pay attention. Imagine walking through your house with your eyes closed - you might trip over a chair and stumble into the wall. That's what it means to stumble in English! But it can also happen when we're trying to do something tricky, like using a new gadget or learning a new skill. We might make a mistake or get our wires crossed, and that's when people say "Whoops, I stumbled over that!"
How common is "stumble"?
Word stumble is considered uncommon in modern English.
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.
Definitions
noun
A fall, trip or substantial misstep.
blooperblunderdefecterrorfault
verb
To trip or fall; to walk clumsily.
Example: He stumbled over a rock.
Real examples of "stumble" in context
