stutter

play

verb stut·ter \ ˈstə-tər \

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 \-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

Behind their reticence is an economy still stuttering after two years of recession and public deficits that are widening on disappointing tax revenues, ballooning pension and payroll costs, as well as headwinds in cutting expenses.

— rachel gamarski, Bloomberg.com, "Brazil Budget Worries Too Much to Take for Foreign Investors," 10 Aug. 2017
The win sees the team overtake Valkenswaard United, who stuttered after Italian rider Alberto Zorzi's four-fault run on Friday, to lead the overall standings.

— CNN, "Longines Global Champions Tour: Harrie Smolders rules in Chantilly," 15 July 2017
But her campaign has often stuttered over the past few weeks.

— jill lawless, The Seattle Times, "UK contenders trade blows on last day of election campaign," 7 June 2017
The Stuttering Foundation website (www.stutteringhelp.com) has a massive list of famous people who stutter and who have been successful in the areas of business, entertainment, sports, science and elsewhere.

— letter writers, Twin Cities, "Letters: A role model for people who stutter," 4 June 2017
A guitar riff would stutter like a crankshaft, then the beat would kick in, and suddenly everything smelled like motor oil and hormones.

— the washington post, The Denver Post, "Chuck Berry helped build rock ‘n’ roll – then he took it for a ride," 19 Mar. 2017
Bautista broke for home but was left stuttering toward the plate and was easily thrown out.

— seth berkman, New York Times, "Tyler Austin Aids in a Yankees Victory, and Makes a Statement," 5 Sep. 2016

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

Because VR is strapped to your face, any frame drop or stutter can make the user feel physically ill.

— ron amadeo, Ars Technica, "Google’s ARCore brings augmented reality to millions of Android devices," 29 Aug. 2017
Overcoming a stutter at a young age through singing, Tutton comes from a family of entertainers.

— piet levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brady Tutton, from Shorewood, a winner on ABC's reality show 'Boy Band'," 24 Aug. 2017
Ferguson now speaks with a stutter and has bouts of shaking.

— gal tziperman lotan, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Jury deliberating fate of man accused in Universal Orlando caricature artist's stabbing," 24 Aug. 2017
Abdullah created an easy 3 or 4 yards of space against Miles Killebrew with a quick stutter step on an option route coming out of the backfield. •

— dave birkett, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions training camp observations: Keshawn Martin more than a return man," 9 Aug. 2017
As health care reform stutters and starts in Congress, many business owners are anxiously awaiting the results.

— emily bamforth, cleveland.com, "Are federal, state regulations hurting Northeast Ohio businesses? Owners discuss problems," 4 Aug. 2017
The company’s prescription drugs business has helped offset stutters at its other units, even as the Monsanto deal has raised questions about whether the conglomerate has reserved enough resources to compete for plum pharmaceutical assets.

— naomi kresge, Bloomberg.com, "Bayer Trims Profit, Sales Forecast on Crop Chemicals Stumble," 27 July 2017
Organizers, chastened by the premature celebrations that followed the House bill's initial stutter, exist in a state of constant alarm, bags packed for a return to the barricades.

— gregory krieg, CNN, "The Democrats actually want to 'own' health care. But not how Donald Trump means it.," 19 July 2017
Emmitt, a young man with a stutter and an endearing guilelessness, proudly arrives at his great-uncle’s farm wearing his Panama hat and white bucks.

— david l. coddon, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Ion presents a powerful 'Ballad of Emmett Till'," 9 July 2017

First Known Use of stutter

1651

STUTTER Defined for English Language Learners

stutter

play

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

play

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

play

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

Read the Latest from M-W

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

'Diffuse' vs. 'Defuse'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066