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
Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Fortunately, the charisma of the show's stars – such as Caity Lotz, Brandon Routh, and Dominic Purcell – work overtime to compensate for the noticeable shortcomings, keeping the viewers invested in what's on screen even as the series stumbles through an initial and very public identity crisis.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Despite early stumbles in the AI race, Google recently seems to have found its footing.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumble
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Verb
Whether Allen was in the process of turning and running away or stumbling in a chaotic scene in a wobbly subway car was unclear.
—Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Fortunately, the charisma of the show's stars – such as Caity Lotz, Brandon Routh, and Dominic Purcell – work overtime to compensate for the noticeable shortcomings, keeping the viewers invested in what's on screen even as the series stumbles through an initial and very public identity crisis.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
Feiring blames these stumbles on sudden demand starting in 2015 or so, when natural wines were in short supply and new producers often lacked skill and released their wines too quickly.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Despite early stumbles in the AI race, Google recently seems to have found its footing.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 12 Jan. 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 22 Jan. 2026.
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