stumble — to trip or momentarily lose one's balance and almost fall while walking or running
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to trip or momentarily lose one's balance and almost fall while walking or running
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈstʌmbəl/
Example Sentences
- The exhausted civil service exam candidate stumbled out of the study room after 12 hours of studying.
- Even the most confident speaker can stumble over words when nervous.
- I stumbled upon this old cafe while looking for a quiet place to study.
stumble
VERB[/ˈstʌmbəl/]
to trip or momentarily lose one's balance and almost fall while walking or running
He stumbles over a tree root while jogging in the park.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Stumble derives from Middle English 'stumblen', which is related to Old Norse 'stumla', meaning to trip or lose one's footing. Originally describing the physical action of one's foot catching on an obstacle and losing balance, the word's meaning gradually expanded to encompass mistakes in speech or action, as well as hesitation.
Breakdown
stumb- (root, from Old Norse stumla) + -le (diminutive or iterative suffix indicating repeated or minor action).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The exhausted civil service exam candidate stumbled out of the study room after 12 hours of studying.”
“Even the most confident speaker can stumble over words when nervous.”
“I stumbled upon this old cafe while looking for a quiet place to study.”
“He stumbled so badly on the icy sidewalk that his coffee flew three meters away.”
📚Related Words
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