falter

/'fɔ:ltə/
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falter

The speaker began to falter during the presentation.

Definition

  1. Verb:

    • To speak or say something in a hesitant, broken, or unsteady way: To lose confidence or fluency in speech, often due to nervousness, uncertainty, or emotion.
    • To move or walk unsteadily and hesitantly: To lose strength or momentum in movement, appearing as if about to fall or stop.
    • To lose strength, momentum, or effectiveness; to waver: To become weaker or less certain in action, purpose, or intensity.

  2. Noun:

    • An act or instance of faltering: A moment of hesitation, unsteadiness, or loss of confidence.
Usage Examples
  • Verb (Speech):
    • Her voice began to falter as she described the difficult memory.
    • The witness faltered under the intense questioning from the lawyer.
  • Verb (Movement):
    • The exhausted hiker faltered on the steep, rocky trail.
    • He faltered for a moment before stepping onto the stage.
  • Verb (Strength/Effectiveness):
    • The company's profits began to falter during the economic downturn.
    • My resolve never faltered, even when the task seemed impossible.
Advanced Usage
  • "to falter out": To utter something with a faltering voice.
    • He faltered out an apology, his eyes fixed on the floor.
  • "without faltering": Without hesitation or loss of confidence.
    • She delivered the complex lecture without faltering once.
Variants and Related Words
  • Faltering (adjective): Unsteady, hesitant, or losing strength.
    • He took a few faltering steps before collapsing.
    • The project continued at a faltering pace.
  • Falteringly (adverb): In a faltering manner.
    • She spoke falteringly about her future plans.
Synonyms
  • Hesitate: To pause before saying or doing something, often due to indecision.
  • Stammer/Stutter: To speak with sudden, involuntary pauses or repetitions of sounds.
  • Waver: To become unsteady or uncertain; to fluctuate between choices.
  • Stumble: To trip or momentarily lose one's balance while walking; to make a mistake while speaking.
Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Falter" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. The verb typically stands alone or is used with prepositions like "in," "on," or "under.")

Related Idioms
  • "Not falter for a second": To not hesitate or show any sign of weakness.
    • She faced the challenge and did not falter for a second.
  • "A faltering step/economy/voice": A common collocation describing something that is unsteady or weakening.
    • The news reported on the nation's faltering economy.
falter

The speaker began to falter during the presentation.

Noun
  1. the act of pausing uncertainly
    • there was a hesitation in his speech
Verb
  1. speak haltingly
    • The speaker faltered when he saw his opponent enter the room
  2. walk unsteadily
    • The drunk man stumbled about
  3. move hesitatingly, as if about to give way
  4. be unsure or weak
    • Their enthusiasm is faltering

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