stammer

verb

stam·​mer ˈsta-mər 

stammered; stammering ˈsta-mə-riŋ 

ˈstam-riŋ

intransitive verb

: to make involuntary stops and repetitions in speaking : stutter

transitive verb

: to utter with involuntary stops or repetitions

"It means," he stammered, groping for meanings—"it means being good …"

—W. E. B. Du Bois

stammer noun

stammerer

ˈsta-mər-ər 

noun

Examples of stammer in a Sentence

“I d-don't know what you're talking about!” she stammered.

He stammered an excuse and fled.

Recent Examples on the Web

Probst glides through his dialogue for the day in a single take, without stopping or even stammering. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019

The fountain stammers and falls, motion-activated, playing to the crowd. — Karl Kirchwey, The New York Review of Books, 13 Nov. 2025

After the awkward, stammering meet-cute, the string of joyful dates, the picturesque proposal, this perfect little love story takes a turn. — Meg Walters, Glamour, 3 Apr. 2026

Hansen would then make a dramatic entrance and interrogate the men, who would often stammer and bumble through the encounter before leaving. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stameren, from Old English stamerian; akin to Old High German stamalōn to stammer, Old Norse stemma to hinder, damn up — more at stem

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for stammer

• amor
• clamor
• clamour
• glamor
• glamour
• grammar
• hammer
• jammer
• rammer
• programmer
• sledgehammer
• tetramer

Kids Definition

stammer

1 of 2 verb

stam·​mer

ˈstam-ər

stammered; stammering

-(ə-)riŋ

: to speak or utter with involuntary stops and much repeating

stammerer

-ər-ər

noun

stammer

2 of 2 noun

: an act or instance of stammering

Medical Definition

stammer

1 of 2 intransitive verb

stam·​mer ˈstam-ər 

stammered; stammering -(ə-)riŋ 

: to make involuntary stops and repetitions in speaking : stutter

stammer

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of stammering

2

: the habitual tendency to stammer

a severe stammer

: stammering sense 2