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

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

Over hard hip-hop beats and snarling guitar distortion, Gordon stammered about daily banalities, reframing modern life as a psychological war zone. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025

Joe stammers a non-answer because his prose has turned more erotic than thriller thanks to his growing obsession with her. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Can only stammer back something about ulcers and panic attacks and nightmares. —Marah Eakin, Vulture, 28 June 2024

The Amateur, based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel (and in theaters Friday), calls for the type of nerd who exists only in the movies — the kind who looks like a quarterback who has been put in a pair of glasses and told to stammer on occasion. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025

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