stum·ble 
/ˈstʌmbəl/ verb
stum·bles; stum·bled; stum·bling /ˈstʌmbəl/ verb [no obj] 1 : to hit your foot on something when you are walking or running so that you fall or almost fall : trip
▪ I stumbled on the uneven pavement. ▪ The horse stumbled and almost fell. 2 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to walk in an awkward way
▪ He stumbled drunkenly across the room. ▪ He stumbled over to the table. ▪ She usually stumbles out of bed [=gets out of bed] around 7:00 am. 3 a : to speak or act in an awkward way
▪ I heard him stumble over the unfamiliar words. ▪ She stumbled through an apology.
b : to begin to have problems after a time of success
▪ The economy has stumbled in recent months. 4 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to find or learn about something unexpectedly
▪ I stumbled across/on/upon [=found] this book by chance. ▪ He stumbled onto [=found out] the truth. ▪ We stumbled onto/across the ruins of an old fort. ▪ They stumbled on/upon [=discovered] a bizarre plot.
▪ I stumbled on the uneven pavement. ▪ The horse stumbled and almost fell.
▪ He stumbled drunkenly across the room. ▪ He stumbled over to the table. ▪ She usually stumbles out of bed [=gets out of bed] around 7:00 am.
▪ I heard him stumble over the unfamiliar words. ▪ She stumbled through an apology.
b : to begin to have problems after a time of success
▪ The economy has stumbled in recent months.
▪ I stumbled across/on/upon [=found] this book by chance. ▪ He stumbled onto [=found out] the truth. ▪ We stumbled onto/across the ruins of an old fort. ▪ They stumbled on/upon [=discovered] a bizarre plot.
— stumble noun, plural stumbles [count]
▪ After a few stumbles, the economy was back on track.
▪ After a few stumbles, the economy was back on track.
— stum·bler /ˈstʌmbəlɚ/ noun, plural stum·blers [count]
/ˈstʌmbəlɚ/ noun, plural stum·blers [count]
