haltingly

/ˈhɔːltɪŋli/ (bre, ipa) · [hˈɔltɪŋli] /ˈhɔːltɪŋli/ (ame, ipa)

haltingly — adverb

1. in broken, uneven bursts, so that a person's words or steps keep pausing because

1.副詞C1
釋義

in broken, uneven bursts, so that a person's words or steps keep pausing because they feel unsure, tense, or not fully in control.

例句

Tomás answered the police officer haltingly, still shaken by the crash.

speech verb + haltingly for a nervous, interrupted reply

After the surgery, Mrs Patel walked haltingly across the ward with a frame.

walk + haltingly for stop-start physical movement

同義詞
  • hesitantly

    more general; stresses uncertainty, with less focus on the stop-start rhythm

  • falteringly

    more literary; often suggests losing strength or nerve as well

  • brokenly

    mainly used for speech and often carries stronger emotion

反義詞
  • fluently

    of speech: smoothly and without searching for words

  • smoothly

    without pauses, jolts, or interruptions

  • confidently

    without the uncertainty or nervousness implied by haltingly

文法句型

speak + haltingly

reply + haltingly

move/walk + haltingly

用法筆記

Most often used for speech, replies, and short movements that keep breaking off. Unlike slowly, it suggests nervousness, weak control, or limited fluency rather than deliberate low speed.

常見錯誤

The nurse spoke haltingly so the children could understand.
The nurse spoke slowly so the children could understand.
💡'haltingly' suggests broken, uncertain pauses, not deliberate slowness for clarity.