stumbling
stumbling — adjective
- stumblingpositive
- more stumblingcomparative
- most stumblingsuperlative
1. describes a way of walking where the steps are not steady or controlled, often b
describes a way of walking where the steps are not steady or controlled, often because of tiredness, injury, or uneven ground.
The hiker's stumbling walk down the rocky slope worried the guide.
Caleb took a few stumbling steps before catching himself on the railing.
"stumbling steps" — describes an unsteady walk
After the long bus ride, Dewi's stumbling walk across the parking lot worried her roommate.
Jabari noticed the old man's stumbling movements and offered an arm for support.
The toddler's first stumbling attempts to cross the room made everyone smile.
2. describes speech, reading, or performance that contains many pauses, repeated wo
describes speech, reading, or performance that contains many pauses, repeated words, or mistakes, usually because of nervousness.
Rania gave a stumbling speech at her sister's wedding and apologized afterward.
Valentina's stumbling reading of the poem showed how nervous she felt on stage.
"stumbling reading" — describes hesitant, mistake-filled reading aloud
The interviewer noticed his stumbling answers and tried to put him at ease.
Joon's stumbling explanation of the project left the clients confused.
- fluent
describes smooth, confident speech
用法筆記
Commonly used with nouns like "speech", "reading", "explanation", or "performance" to describe a lack of fluency caused by anxiety.
常見錯誤
3. describes a process, effort, or attempt that keeps running into problems and adv
describes a process, effort, or attempt that keeps running into problems and advances only with great difficulty.
The company's stumbling entry into the Asian market cost them millions.
Anong's stumbling efforts to learn the guitar finally paid off after a year.
"stumbling efforts" — describes attempts full of mistakes or setbacks
The peace talks made a stumbling start but gradually found common ground.
Hannah's book about fresh starts describes her stumbling career path with its many layoffs and false starts.
- smooth
describes progress without difficulty or interruption
用法筆記
Often used metaphorically to describe a project, career, or relationship that faces repeated obstacles. Not used for physical walking.
stumbling — noun
1. a moment when you trip or nearly fall while walking, or when you make an awkward
a moment when you trip or nearly fall while walking, or when you make an awkward mistake while speaking or performing.
Iker's stumbling on the stage caused a brief silence in the audience.
Sana recovered from her stumbling during the speech with quiet confidence.
"recover from a stumble" — collocation for bouncing back after a mistake
Stumbling suddenly on the rocky path sent Tamar's water bottle rolling downhill.
Henry's stumbling over the unfamiliar word made the rest of the class laugh.
stumbling — verb
- stumblingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- stumblings3rd person singular
- stumblinging-ing form
- stumblingedpast simple
1. to hit your foot on an object when you walk or run, which makes you lose your ba
to hit your foot on an object when you walk or run, which makes you lose your balance and start to fall.
Rania stumbled on a loose stone and nearly dropped her shopping bags.
Caleb stumbled over the rug edge and grabbed the door frame to steady himself.
"stumble over" + object — pattern for what causes the trip
An old woman stumbled as she stepped off the bus in the pouring rain.
Joon stumbled twice during the race but still finished in third place.
- trip
more general; can be intentional (trip someone) whereas stumble is always accidental
- lose one's footing
more formal and describes the result rather than the cause
文法句型
stumble + on/over/against + noun phrase
用法筆記
This is the most common physical sense. The object that causes the trip is introduced by "over", "on", or sometimes "against". Can also be used without an object — "She stumbled and fell."
常見錯誤
2. to walk in an unsteady or clumsy way, as if you might fall at any moment, often
to walk in an unsteady or clumsy way, as if you might fall at any moment, often because of tiredness, darkness, or uneven ground.
Dewi stumbled through the dark living room to find the light switch.
Jabari stumbled out of the small fishing boat onto the sandy beach.
"stumble out of" — direction pattern for leaving clumsily
The sleepy child stumbled toward her mother with her blanket trailing behind.
Valentina stumbled along the uneven path with her heavy backpack for hours.
- stride
describes walking with long, confident steps
文法句型
stumble + adverb/preposition (along, out, through, toward)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (TRIP): sense 1 describes one specific moment of hitting an obstacle, while this sense describes continuous unsteady movement over a distance. Often followed by a direction word ("along", "out", "through", "toward").
3. to have difficulty speaking smoothly, making pauses, repeating words, or making
to have difficulty speaking smoothly, making pauses, repeating words, or making mistakes because of nervousness, uncertainty, or lack of preparation.
Iker stumbled over his words during the job interview and had to pause.
"stumble over one's words" — fixed phrase for speaking mistakes
Sana stumbled through her opening statement but grew more confident as she continued.
During the first act, the actor stumbled over his lines twice and the director was furious.
Tamar stumbled over her answer when a reporter asked about the campaign's missing funds.
- fluent
describes smooth, effortless speech
文法句型
stumble + over/through + noun phrase (words, speech, name)
用法筆記
The most common object of this sense is "words" — "stumble over your words" is a fixed expression. May also take a specific difficult word or name as the object: "She stumbled over his surname."
常見錯誤
4. to make a serious or careless error in judgment, planning, or performance, espec
to make a serious or careless error in judgment, planning, or performance, especially one that has negative consequences.
Hannah stumbled badly when she gave the wrong sales figures to the board.
"stumble badly" — collocation for a serious mistake
The company stumbled by launching the new product before it was fully tested.
Anong stumbled in the second round by moving her queen too early, and her opponent captured it instantly.
The team stumbled early in the project by ignoring the budget limits.
- succeed
focuses on achieving the intended result without errors
文法句型
stumble + adverb (badly, early)
stumble in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Typically used with an adverb ("badly", "early") or a prepositional phrase ("in the second round", "by launching") to describe the context of the error. Less common in everyday conversation than the physical or speech senses.
5. to unexpectedly meet someone or discover something without actively searching fo
to unexpectedly meet someone or discover something without actively searching for it.
Caleb stumbled across an old photo album while cleaning out the attic.
"stumble across" — phrasal pattern for unexpected discovery
Rania stumbled upon a small café that served the best coffee in town.
While hiking in the forest, Joon and Dewi stumbled on a hidden waterfall.
The journalist stumbled across evidence of corruption while researching another story.
- come across
more general and slightly more common in everyday speech
- happen upon
more formal or literary; implies an element of luck
- search for
a deliberate, planned effort to find something
文法句型
stumble + across/upon/on + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always used with a particle — "across", "upon", or "on" — which cannot be omitted. "Stumble across" and "stumble upon" are interchangeable; "stumble on" is slightly more informal. The subject is usually a person, and the object is something unexpected or valuable.