halting

adjective

halt·​ing ˈhȯl-tiŋ 

: marked by a lack of sureness or effectiveness

spoke in a halting manner

haltingly

ˈhȯl-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

Examples of halting in a Sentence

She answered in a halting voice.

The baby took a few halting steps.

Progress in the negotiations has been halting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Onstage, Saint Laurent gives a short thank-you speech in halting English. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026

The legislation led to the formation of local agencies that are responsible for halting chronic declines in groundwater levels, including by imposing pumping limits and fees. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

The sticking point appears to be the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had militarized at the start of the war, halting commercial shipping and skyrocketing energy prices around the world. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 24 July 2026

Biden's halting gait, frail appearance and frequent verbal stumbles eventually doomed his 2024 reelection campaign. — ABC News, 14 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for halting

• faulting
• malting
• salting
• vaulting
• assaulting
• defaulting
• desalting
• exalting

Kids Definition

halting

adjective

halt·​ing ˈhȯl-tiŋ 

: being unsure or hesitant

spoke in a halting manner

haltingly adverb