stumbling
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.walking or moving in an unsteady way, as if you are about to fall.
adj.characterised by unsteady or clumsy movement; often used as a participial adjective to describe a person's gait.
Simple“The stumbling hiker finally reached the camp after walking for ten hours.”
In context“The stumbling figure emerged from the thick fog, clearly exhausted and struggling to maintain his balance on the uneven terrain.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
adj.speaking with many pauses and mistakes because you are nervous or confused.
adj.marked by hesitation, errors, or lack of fluency in verbal delivery.
Simple“He gave a stumbling apology that didn't sound very sincere.”
In context“Her stumbling explanation only served to increase the committee's suspicion regarding the missing funds.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the act of losing your balance or nearly falling while walking.
n.the action of tripping or losing one's footing; a gerundial noun describing the physical event.
Simple“After a bit of stumbling in the dark, I finally found the light switch.”
In context“The sound of heavy stumbling in the hallway alerted the residents that someone was approaching the door in the middle of the night.”
“Stumbling like someone attached his legs the wrong way round, he gave it to Brahím Diaz who sent Mbappé away to score.”
“He says something about stumbling across Gowan online during a career lull and wanting to know more.”