stumble

/'stʌmbl/
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stumble

He stumbled over a tree root on the forest path.

Definition

  1. Verb:

    • To trip or momentarily lose one's balance while walking or running: To make a misstep, often hitting one's foot against something, causing an unsteady or almost falling motion.
    • To walk in an unsteady, awkward way: To move with a clumsy, faltering gait, as if about to fall.
    • To make a mistake or hesitate while speaking or performing: To speak or act in a faltering, uncertain manner, often pausing or making errors.
    • To discover or encounter something by chance: To find or come across something unexpectedly or accidentally.

  2. Noun:

    • An act of stumbling: An instance of tripping or losing one's balance while moving.
    • A mistake or blunder: An unintentional error, especially one that is awkward or embarrassing.
Examples of Usage

  • Verb:

    • She didn't see the curb and stumbled. (She tripped on the curb.)
    • The tired hiker stumbled down the final part of the trail. (The hiker walked unsteadily down the trail.)
    • He stumbled over his words during the important presentation. (He spoke hesitantly and made errors while speaking.)
    • While researching online, I stumbled upon an old photo of my grandparents. (I found the photo by chance.)

  • Noun:

    • One stumble on the rocky path could lead to a serious fall. (One trip on the path could cause a fall.)
    • His mispronunciation of the client's name was an embarrassing stumble. (His error was an embarrassing mistake.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to stumble across/on/upon something": To discover something by accident.
    • I stumbled across this charming little bookstore while wandering through the old town.
  • "to stumble through something": To proceed through an activity (like a speech or performance) in a clumsy, error-filled manner.
    • He hadn't practiced, so he had to stumble through his lines in the play.
Variants and Related Words
  • Stumbling (adj/n): Describing an unsteady motion or acting as a noun for the act itself.
    • His stumbling attempt at an apology made things worse.
  • Stumbling block (n): An obstacle or cause of difficulty that prevents progress.
    • The lack of funding was the main stumbling block for the project.
Synonyms
  • Trip, falter, lurch (for unsteady movement).
  • Blunder, slip up, fumble (for making a mistake).
  • Happen upon, chance upon, discover (for finding by accident).
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Stumble across/on/upon: To find something unexpectedly.
    • Researchers stumbled upon a major breakthrough.
  • Stumble into: To enter a situation, often a problematic one, by chance or through clumsiness.
    • He accidentally stumbled into the middle of a private meeting.
Related Idioms
  • Stumble at/over the starting line/hurdle: To fail at the very beginning of an endeavor.
    • The new policy stumbled at the starting line due to poor communication.
stumble

He stumbled over a tree root on the forest path.

Noun
  1. an unintentional but embarrassing blunder
    • he recited the whole poem without a single trip
    • he arranged his robes to avoid a trip-up later
    • confusion caused his unfortunate misstep
  2. an unsteady uneven gait
Verb
  1. make an error
    • She slipped up and revealed the name
  2. encounter by chance
    • I stumbled across a long-lost cousin last night in a restaurant
  3. miss a step and fall or nearly fall
    • She stumbled over the tree root
  4. walk unsteadily
    • The drunk man stumbled about

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