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Stumbling - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Stumbling means tripping or losing balance while walking, often due to an obstacle or clumsiness. It can also describe making mistakes in speech or actions, indicating hesitation or difficulty.

stumbling

/ˈstʌmblɪŋ/ /ˈstʌmblɪŋ/

Definition:

Tripping or losing balance while walking; making mistakes or encountering difficulties.

Synonyms:

tripping, faltering, floundering, fumbling

Part of Speech:

verb, noun, adjective

Antonyms:

steadying, gliding

Common Collocations:

stumbling block, stumbling upon, stumbling along, stumbling speech

Derivatives:

stumble, stumbled, stumbler

Usage Tips:

Use "stumbling" to describe physical tripping or figurative difficulties in progress or speech.

Common Phrases:

stumbling block, stumbling upon gold, stumbling in the dark

Etymology:

From Old English *stumolian*, meaning to trip or walk unsteadily; related to Dutch *strompelen*.

Examples:

  • 1. She kept stumbling over the uneven pavement.
  • 2. His speech was full of stumbling pauses and mistakes.
  • 3. The hiker avoided stumbling by watching his step carefully.
  • 4. They found success after stumbling through many failures.

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