halting

1 of 2

adjective

halt·​ing ˈhȯl-tiŋ 

: marked by a lack of sureness or effectiveness

spoke in a halting manner

haltingly

ˈhȯl-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

halting

2 of 2

present participle of halt entry 1, halt entry 3

Examples of halting in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Zacharia’s first briefing drew scrutiny for halting remarks, a brief appearance and questions from only three conservative-leaning or Trump-friendly outlets. — Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

The institution opened in 2021 before halting programming in 2022 at the start of the Russia-Ukraine War, and is funded by billionaire Leonid Mikhelson’s V-A-C Foundation. — News Desk, Artforum, 16 Oct. 2026

Zacharia was fired on Friday after less than a week in her new role, after a rocky start that included a halting performance in the briefing room, a scandal over her legal credentials, and a round of less-than-successful cleanup interviews. — Cameron Peters, Vox, 16 Oct. 2026

In August 2021, the Pretty Rocks Landslide took out the 92-mile Denali Park Road around mile marker 45, halting access as a new bridge was constructed. — Rebecca Deurlein, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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