stumbling

From the verb stumble: (⇒ conjugate)

stumbling is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

stum•ble /ˈstʌmbəl/   v., -bled, -bling, n. 
v. [no object]

1. to strike the foot against something, as in running, so as to trip or fall:
   He hit a rock and stumbled.
2. to walk or go unsteadily:
   The drunk stumbled down the street.
3. to make a slip, mistake, or blunder;
   to proceed in a hesitating manner, as in action or speech:
   The scientists were stumbling along, looking for a cure.
4. to discover, come upon, or meet with accidentally or unexpectedly:
   [~ + on/across + object] They stumbled on a little village and stayed there.

n. [countable]

5. the act of stumbling.
6. a slip or blunder.

stum•bler, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stum•ble  (stum′bəl), v., -bled, -bling, n. 
v.i. 

1. to strike the foot against something, as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall;
   trip.
2. to walk or go unsteadily:
   to stumble down a dark passage.
3. to make a slip, mistake, or blunder, esp. a sinful one:
   to stumble over a question; to stumble and fall from grace.
4. to proceed in a hesitating or blundering manner, as in action or speech (often fol. by along).
5. to discover or meet with accidentally or unexpectedly (usually fol. by on, upon, or across):
   They stumbled on a little village.
6. to falter or hesitate, as at an obstacle to progress or belief.

v.t. 

7. to cause to stumble;
   trip.
8. to give pause to;
   puzzle or perplex.

n. 

9. the act of stumbling.
10. a moral lapse or error.
11. a slip or blunder.

• 1275–1325; Middle English stumblen; cognate with Norwegian stumla to grope and stumble in the dark; akin to stammer

stum′bler, n. 
stum′bling•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stumble / ˈstʌmb^əl/ verb (intransitive)

1. to trip or fall while walking or running
2. to walk in an awkward, unsteady, or unsure way
3. to make mistakes or hesitate in speech or actions
4. followed by across or upon: to come (across) by accident

noun

1. a false step, trip, or blunder
2. the act of stumbling

Etymology: 14th Century: related to Norwegian stumla, Danish dialect stumle; see stammer

ˈstumbler noun

ˈstumbling adjective

ˈstumblingly adverb