stutter

verb stut·ter \ ˈstə-tər \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Examples: stutter in a Sentence

Definition of stutter

stuttered; stuttering; stutters

intransitive verb

1 : to speak with involuntary disruption or blocking of speech (as by repetition or prolongation of vocal sounds)

2 : to move or act in a halting or spasmodic manner

the old jalopy bucks and stutters uphill
—William Cleary

transitive verb

: to say, speak, or sound with or as if with a stutter

—

stutterer

play \ˈstə-tər-ər\ noun

See stutter defined for English-language learners

See stutter defined for kids

Examples of stutter in a Sentence

I used to stutter when I was a child.
She stutters when she gets excited.

Recent Examples of stutter from the Web

In Sinclair's place, Lindsey Horan took the shot and stuttered on her attempt.

— jamie goldberg, OregonLive.com, "Portland Thorns unveil new secondary jerseys," 20 Apr. 2018
For years, the cult of Musk persevered even as his electric vehicle company stuttered in its efforts to meet production and delivery deadlines for its limited-quantity luxury vehicles like the Model S and Model X.

— johana bhuiyan, Recode, "Tesla still isn’t shipping its $35,000 Model 3 — and Elon Musk keeps shifting his production targets," 22 May 2018
No more stinging eyes, stuttered excuses, and chafed-raw fingers.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "A reminder that Kyle Korver has the NBA's craziest workout regimen," 21 May 2018
Among the appealing chintzy synthesizers, this is an example of how Davis could say so much with only restrained, stuttering notes, never wandering the fretboard needlessly.

— morgan enos, Billboard, "Reggie Lucas Dead at 65: 11 of His Essential Cuts as a Jazz Sideman," 21 May 2018
The following day, Priests put even more anger into their songs, which could veer from the good-time vibe of surf rock to scrappy, stuttering anthems aimed at confronting the listener.

— todd martens, latimes.com, "Rock 'n' roll may be pushed aside, but it isn't dead yet," 16 Apr. 2018
But Lindsey Horan stuttered on her penalty kick attempt and the shot was stopped by Bledsoe.

— tim brown, OregonLive.com, "Tobin Heath returns as Portland Thorns settle for 1-1 draw with Washington Spirit," 20 Apr. 2018
Before a phalanx of cameras, she and another student stuttered through a retelling of their escape.

— joe parkinson, WSJ, "The American Ordeal of the Boko Haram Schoolgirls," 13 Apr. 2018
Jeff VanderMeer’s novel of the same name stutters slightly to its end, with a completely different plot tie-up.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Annihilation Is a Brilliant Splicing of Woolf With Cronenberg," 27 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stutter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of stutter

frequentative of English dialect stut to stutter, from Middle English stutten; akin to Dutch stotteren to stutter, Goth stautan to strike — more at contusion

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1566

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

stutter

noun

Definition of stutter

1 : an act or instance of stuttering

2 : the habitual tendency to stutter

had a mild stutter

: stuttering

See stutter defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of stutter from the Web

Another Philadelphia-area Starbucks is in hot water after a barista allegedly mocked a customer with a stutter.

— monica rodriguez, Fortune, "Starbucks Barista Accused of Mocking Customer's Stutter Is Fired," 6 July 2018
Starbucks said an employee in Philadelphia has been fired after reportedly mocking a customer with a stutter.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Wynn Resorts losing high-profile general counsel," 5 July 2018
Likely there will be stutters along the way, perhaps even new threats and walkouts.

— andrew malcolm, SFChronicle.com, "An inside look at the Trump-Kim summit," 21 June 2018
Throughout his childhood and adulthood, Jealous has struggled with a stutter, which was especially noticeable during a recent televised debate.

— ovetta wiggins, Washington Post, "Ben Jealous: Sanders-style Democrat gains traction in Clinton-loving Md.," 6 June 2018
Following yet another disappointing season at Anfield, Mignolet has seen his Liverpool career stutter after being replaced by young German keeper Loris Karius.

— SI.com, "Dortmund Express Interest in Signing Liverpool Outcast as Potential Replacement for Keeper," 6 May 2018
Their love story starts in stutters, the risk of exposure all the more real with every touch.

— New York Times, "A Debut Novel Traces the Filipino Experience in the United States," 2 May 2018
But Spellman appeared and Graham stutter-stepped, earning a travel call.

— mike jensen, Philly.com, "Villanova's three-pointers against Kansas in Final Four overshadowed its incredible defensive effort," 31 Mar. 2018
The informant was one part of the early, stutter-stop efforts to investigate possible collusion.

— benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "What You Need to Know About the FBI’s Trump-Campaign Informant," 19 May 2018

First Known Use of stutter

1651

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

STUTTER Defined for English Language Learners

stutter

verb

Definition of stutter for English Language Learners

: to have a speech problem that causes you to repeat the beginning sound of some words

stutter

noun

Definition of stutter for English Language Learners

: a speech problem that causes someone to repeat the beginning sounds of some words

STUTTER Defined for Kids

stutter

verb stut·ter \ ˈstə-tər \

Definition of stutter for Students

stuttered; stuttering

: to speak or say with involuntary repetition or interruption of sounds

stutter

noun

Definition of stutter for Students

: the act or an instance of speaking with involuntary repetition or interruption

Medical Dictionary

stutter

intransitive verb stut·ter \ ˈstət-ər \

medical Definition of stutter

: to speak with involuntary disruption or blocking of speech (as by repetition or prolongation of vocal sounds)

transitive verb

: to say, speak, or sound with or as if with a stutter

stutter

noun

medical Definition of stutter

1 : an act or instance of stuttering

2 : the habitual tendency to stutter

had a mild stutter

: stuttering 2

Learn More about stutter

See words that rhyme with stutter Spanish Central: Translation of stutter Nglish: Translation of stutter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stutter for Arabic speakers

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stutter

Definition of stutter

stutterer

Examples of stutter in a Sentence

Recent Examples of stutter from the Web

Origin and Etymology of stutter

stutter

Definition of stutter

Recent Examples of stutter from the Web

First Known Use of stutter

STUTTER Defined for English Language Learners

stutter

Definition of stutter for English Language Learners

stutter

Definition of stutter for English Language Learners

STUTTER Defined for Kids

stutter

Definition of stutter for Students

stutter

Definition of stutter for Students

Medical Dictionary

stutter

medical Definition of stutter

stutter

medical Definition of stutter

Learn More about stutter

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