haltingly

IPA/ˈhɔːltɪŋli/
KK[hˈɔltɪŋli]IPA/ˈhɔːltɪŋli/

haltingly — adverb

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

1.adverbC1
Definition

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

Example

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

Common collocations
  • speak haltingly
  • reply haltingly
  • say haltingly
  • walk haltingly
  • move haltingly
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • fluently

    of speech: smoothly and without searching for words

  • smoothly

    without pauses, jolts, or interruptions

  • confidently

    without the uncertainty or nervousness implied by haltingly

Grammar Patterns

speak + haltingly

reply + haltingly

move/walk + haltingly

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

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.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words can describe speech that does not come out smoothly, but they point to slightly different things. 'Haltingly' highlights a stop-start rhythm in either speech or movement, often because someone is nervous, physically weak, or still searching for words. 'Hesitantly' is broader and more common: it focuses on uncertainty before or during an action, even if the action itself is smooth. 'Falteringly' is closer to 'haltingly' but sounds more literary and often suggests someone is losing strength or courage. 'Brokenly' is mainly for speech and usually adds stronger emotion, especially grief or shock. A witness might answer haltingly after an accident, hesitate before signing a form, falteringly thank a doctor, or speak brokenly after hearing bad news.

haltingly ↗hesitantly ↗falteringly ↗brokenly

Common collocations

Phrases

  • speak haltingly
  • reply haltingly
  • move haltingly
  • walk haltingly

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from the adjective 'halting' plus the adverb ending '-ly'. 'Halting' comes from 'halt', an older verb meaning 'to limp' or move unevenly, so the word's core image is of broken steps. That picture later widened from movement to speech, giving modern 'haltingly' its sense of words or actions that keep starting and stopping.

First known use

1585

1585, in the meaning defined above