falter
- 01 C2 Proficiency
v.to move or walk in a way that looks like you might fall.
v.to move unsteadily or stumble; to lose physical balance or coordination while in motion.
Simple“The tired runner's steps began to falter in the final mile of the race.”
In context“He took a few faltering steps toward the door before leaning against the wall for support.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a short moment of weakness, hesitation, or unsteadiness.
n.an act of faltering; a momentary wavering or unsteadiness in movement, speech, or action.
Simple“There was a slight falter in his voice when he said goodbye.”
In context“The brief falter in the engine's rhythm was the first sign of the mechanical failure that followed.”
Synonyms
“The UK economy saw a strong start to the year, but growth then faltered with the conflict in the Middle East affecting some businesses.”
“Tests show that pieces smaller than a millimetre can mirror key features of full-scale organs and tissues, including how they falter with disease and respond to drugs.”
From Middle English falteren (“to stagger; be unsteady, tremble, quiver; to stammer; be entangled, get caught”), further origin unknown. Probably from a North Germanic source such as Old Norse faltrask (“to hesitate, be puzzled, be encumbered”). May also be a frequentative of fold, although the change from d to t is unusual.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.