Meaning & use
Stumbled
Last updated
Tripped or nearly fell while walking or running, or made a mistake or faltered while speaking or acting.
See it in a sentence
She stumbled over a tree root but managed to catch herself before falling.
He stumbled through his speech after losing his notes.
A note on using this word
The phrase "stumbled upon" uses the same verb figuratively to mean discovering something by chance.
Words with a similar meaning
trippedfalteredfumbled
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. verb
Discovered or encountered something by chance.
They stumbled upon a hidden waterfall while hiking off the marked trail.
Make it your own
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