/ ˈstʌmbl; NAmE / verb [ v ]
1.
stumble (over / on sth) to hit your foot against sth while you are walking or running and almost fall
SYN trip :
The child stumbled and fell.
I stumbled over a rock.
2.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to walk or move in an unsteady way :
We were stumbling around in the dark looking for a candle.
3.
stumble (over / through sth) to make a mistake or mistakes and stop while you are speaking, reading to sb or playing music :
In her nervousness she stumbled over her words.
I stumbled through the piano piece with difficulty.
► stum·ble noun
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PHRASAL VERBS
- stumble across / on / upon sth/sb
- stumble into sth
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a verb): from Old Norse , from the Germanic base of stammer .