stumbled; stumbling
ˈstəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to fall into sin or waywardness
b
: to make an error : blunder
c
: to come to an obstacle to belief
2
: to trip in walking or running
3
a
: to walk unsteadily or clumsily
b
: to speak or act in a hesitant or faltering manner
4
a
: to come unexpectedly or by chance
stumble onto the truth
b
: to fall or move carelessly
Examples of stumble in a Sentence
Verb
I stumbled on the uneven pavement.
The horse stumbled and almost fell.
He stumbled drunkenly across the room.
He stumbled over to the table.
I heard him stumble over the unfamiliar words.
She stumbled through an apology.
The economy has stumbled in recent months.
Noun
was his hurtful remark a regrettable stumble, or was it made with artful intention?
has bones so brittle that a minor stumble could result in a serious break
Recent Examples on the Web
Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The Kansas City Chiefs stumbled to a 6-11 record in 2025, their worst finish since 2012 and a stunning fall for a team that has recently dominated the NFL.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Arteta and Arsenal have also had to withstand almighty pressure and a media that have feasted on every one of their stumbles.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumble
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Verb
Bargatze stars as Nate Wilcox, a successful salesman who stumbles into a chaotic life as a stay-at-home dad to three daughters after his wife, Katie (Mandy Moore), lands a life-changing deal on Shark Tank to put her household invention into play.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The Kansas City Chiefs stumbled to a 6-11 record in 2025, their worst finish since 2012 and a stunning fall for a team that has recently dominated the NFL.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Noun
The recovery was marked by additional stumbles, reversing course on traffic checkpoints, tax relief for wildfire victims and the need for a single recovery chief.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Arteta and Arsenal have also had to withstand almighty pressure and a media that have feasted on every one of their stumbles.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumble
Cite this Entry
“Stumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stumble. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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