stutter

verb stut·ter \ ˈstə-tər \

Updated on: 28 Mar 2018

Definition of stutter

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

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
Many wondered if Liverpool's attack would stutter following the departure of Coutinho early this week.

— USA TODAY, "Nine minutes of mayhem ends Manchester City's 'Invincibles' bid," 14 Jan. 2018
Many wondered if Liverpool’s attack would stutter following the departure of Coutinho early this week.

— steve douglas, The Seattle Times, "9 minutes of mayhem end City’s bid to be the ‘Invincibles’," 14 Jan. 2018
Every constant was unmade; the maps were redrawn; and the old, steady rhythm of life stuttered and pulsed erratically.

— cory doctorow, Slate Magazine, "I’ve Created a Monster!," 22 May 2017
With five wins from five in a brilliant start to the campaign, while eternal rivals Real Madrid are stuttering in the league after failing to win a home game so far, Barca could be looking ahead to a return to pinnacle of domestic Spanish football.

— SI.com, "Girona vs Barcelona Preview: Team News, Key Battles, Classic Encounters and More," 22 Sep. 2017
Jurgen Klopp's men stuttered earlier in the season but have hit their stride in the Premier League and the Champions League, with Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane dazzling in front of goal.

— afp, chicagotribune.com, "Champions League - will the English 5 survive?," 12 Dec. 2017
Springer is a spokesman for the two-week summer camp that benefits kids and teens who stutter.

— USA TODAY, "Worth shouting about: George Springer wins World Series MVP," 2 Nov. 2017
Real Madrid have also stuttered at the start of the season.

— SI.com, "Alaves vs Real Madrid Preview: Classic Encounter, Key Battle, Recent Form and More," 22 Sep. 2017

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

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

Lumpia, cousins to Chinese spring rolls, are dunked in sawsawan (dipping sauce), which may be as straightforward as vinegar with a stutter of raw garlic.

— ligaya mishan, New York Times, "Filipino Food Finds a Place in the American Mainstream," 12 Mar. 2018
The game's 60Hz cap doesn't appear to add significant stutter as of press time, at least, and the game can ratchet up to 120Hz if your monitor supports it.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "Final Fantasy XV for Windows should have been a mess, but it’s the opposite," 7 Mar. 2018
For example, customers are more likely to experience latency issues with satellite web services that could cause online video games to stutter or streaming video to suddenly lower in quality to compensate.

— jonathan vanian, Fortune, "Viasat CEO Talks New Satellite Internet Service and SpaceX," 27 Feb. 2018
A few minutes later, Coleman dropped a defender with a quick hesitation stutter, stepped back and knocked down a 3-pointer.

— nick moyle, San Antonio Express-News, "Unheralded Coleman steals the show," 3 Feb. 2018
A few minutes later, Coleman dropped a defender with a quick hesitation stutter, stepped back and knocked down a 3-pointer.

— nick moyle, Houston Chronicle, "Matt Coleman steals the show in UT's win over rival Oklahoma," 3 Feb. 2018
Even tagging along with his mother, Stephanie, at her job as an Amtrak attendant, young Stefon would startle train passengers by stutter-stepping down the aisles.

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs Just Need Someone to Throw Them the Damn Ball," 10 Jan. 2018
The affable longtime country music star who wrote hits for Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs and many others, and overcame a stutter to sing on dozens of his own singles.

— bernard mcghee, sacbee, "A look at notable deaths in 2017," 26 Dec. 2017
Rogowsky inadvertently stutters, Max Headroom-style.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "HQ Trivia is a Harbinger of Dystopia," 22 Dec. 2017

First Known Use of stutter

1651

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up stutter? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

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

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

What the #@*% Is a ‘Grawlix?’

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

The Adverb: A Most Fascinating POS

More Confusing Words—Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes