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
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025
After a dramatic event, like an underwater landslide, covered her in sediment, her body remained hidden until 16 years ago, when scientists stumbled upon the nearly pristine fossil of the animal—a dolphin-like marine predator—and unearthed it for further research.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 July 2025
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
The latest stumble for Maryland men’s lacrosse was costly.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumble
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Verb
Hegseth, a former Fox TV host who has stumbled through several controversies during his six months in office, sat silently next to Trump without volunteering any information about the decision that apparently came on his watch.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025
After a dramatic event, like an underwater landslide, covered her in sediment, her body remained hidden until 16 years ago, when scientists stumbled upon the nearly pristine fossil of the animal—a dolphin-like marine predator—and unearthed it for further research.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 July 2025
Noun
But the stumble has become a reflection of the company’s broader turmoil.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
The latest stumble for Maryland men’s lacrosse was costly.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumble
Cite this Entry
“Stumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stumble. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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