sputter

1 of 2

verb

sput·​ter ˈspə-tər How to pronounce sputter (audio)
sputtered; sputtering; sputters

transitive verb

1
: to spit or squirt from the mouth with explosive sounds
2
: to utter hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement
"that's ridiculous!" she sputtered
3
: to dislodge (atoms) from the surface of a material by collision with high energy particles
also : to deposit (a metallic film) by such a process

intransitive verb

1
: to spit or squirt particles of food or saliva noisily from the mouth
2
: to speak explosively or confusedly in anger or excitement
3
: to make explosive popping sounds
sputterer noun

sputter

2 of 2

noun

1
: confused and excited speech or discussion
2
: the act or sound of sputtering

Examples of sputter in a Sentence

Verb The motor sputtered and died. He was sputtering with rage. She sputtered an angry protest. “You, you have to be kidding!” he sputtered.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
As pandemic money runs out, basic income programs might sputter The pandemic also spurred cash aid because cities got their own pot of COVID relief money. Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 The offense sputtered in the first half against Houston on Friday, managing to score just 52 points on 54 possessions. Shane Young, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 And sure, Purdy’s had some clunkers and the offense has sputtered periodically, notably when Samuel isn’t on the field. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024 Asia’s, too, given that the region’s main economic engines are sputtering in different ways. William Pesek, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Blame that on a late-starting and sputtering El Niño, which doused some areas and left others wanting. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 The car sputtered out of the gate, but hit Autobahn speeds by the end. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2024 At some point, the balloon won’t be able to take in any more air and will pop or sputter out air. Julia Ries, SELF, 12 Feb. 2024 The caller reportedly heard the engine sputter out before the aircraft fell out of sight. Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024
Noun
China also seems to be easing its localization rules as its economy sputters, allowing more companies to store data outside China’s borders. Aziz Huq, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024 European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will likely push back Thursday against expectations for quick interest rate cuts even as Europe’s economy sputters and financial markets froth in hopes of cheaper credit that would boost business activity and stock prices. David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 25 Jan. 2024 Volcanic coughs and sputters have occurred since, but a bigger eruption may be inevitable in the days ahead. Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2023 Back in upstate New York, the Gigafactory 2 sputters on, just barely. Bychristiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023 Since peaking in early 2018, American’s shares have dropped roughly 90%, crushing its market capitalization to a puny $7.1 billion as of October 27, a figure so shrunken that this iconic name now sputters as only as America’s 478th most valuable public enterprise. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2023 Irish independence is at hand, and families like the Boyles want to keep the ongoing sputters of violence in back alleys and on dark country roads as far out of sight and mind as possible. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2023 Slovis, offense sputters in 14-0 win over Sam Houston. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023 With climate change causing increasingly hotter summers, temperatures can fluctuate — and sometimes flare — as summer sputters away into fall and that can translate into some steamy classroom situations, especially with schools starting earlier in August. Carrie Napoleon, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sputter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

akin to Dutch sputteren to sputter

First Known Use

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sputter was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near sputter

Cite this Entry

“Sputter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sputter. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sputter

1 of 2 verb
sput·​ter ˈspət-ər How to pronounce sputter (audio)
1
: to spit or squirt pieces of food or saliva noisily from the mouth
2
: to speak or utter hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement
sputtered out protests
3
: to make explosive popping sounds
the motor sputtered and died
sputterer
-ər-ər
noun

sputter

2 of 2 noun
: the act or sound of sputtering

More from Merriam-Webster on sputter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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