💔 To lose strength 📚 To move shakily 🚶‍♂️ To walk unsteadily 🗣️ To speak hesitantly

to falter

4 6.1

To walk unsteadily, almost stumbling because of weakness

verb
/ˈfɔltər/

: trastabillar

I took a weak step sideways and faltered.

The first is he falters when he's carrying the cross.

Examples

And so they falter and the next year they don't build those things.
In front of her, Lionel faltered as he lifted Sam.

Fiction book (1995)
As the sound drew closer, it was clear that the engines were faltering and that the plane was in trouble.

Fiction book (1990)
Reaching to take it, Amy faltered from the weight of the pot.

Fiction book (2000)
Rising, Leonard falters and steadies himself.

Fiction book (1998)
My feet faltered and slid; my pack jounced heavily on my back.

Fiction book (1993)
Small industry and other non-high-tech industries have been faltering due to China's incredibly low prices; now this will change.

Blog text (3)
As the gaffer and boom man drag off the almost unconscious Palomino, the script girl takes one faltering step after him.

Fiction book (1995)
At least in the general public's eyes, the agency has appeared to be faltering as audit levels have plummeted, hovering at historic lows.

Academic text (2017)
As he approached the finish line, his legs began to falter, and he slowed down.

Synonyms

to trip

vsto falter

219 2.2

To cause someone to stumble or lose balance

refers specifically to repeated unsteady steps due to weakness or doubt

to stumble

vsto falter

129 1.6

To trip or lose balance while walking and almost fall

involves repeated tripping tied to weakness or unsure movement rather than single slips

to trip over

vsto falter

49 1.9

Lose your balance when your foot hits or catches on something while walking

is caused by internal weakness or doubt, not by an external obstacle

to stagger

vsto falter

49 4.0

Walk in an unsteady way as if about to fall

focuses on repeated tripping linked to uncertainty rather than lone weakness episodes

to bumble

vsto falter

18 5.4

To move in a clumsy, confused way

focuses specifically on unsteady walking with repeated tripping from weakness or uncertainty

to reel

vsto falter

16 4.6

To move in an unsteady way as if about to fall

is similar but stresses repeated tripping from weakness or doubt

to totter

vsto falter

11 4.8

To walk in an unsteady way as if about to fall

moves unsteadily often with repeated tripping from weakness or uncertainty

to shamble

vsto falter

4 7.9

To walk awkwardly while dragging your feet

is about unsteady walking caused by weakness or uncertainty, not dragging feet

to dodder

vsto falter

4 8.4

To walk in a slow, unsteady way because of old age or weakness

shares unsteadiness but centers on weakness or doubt, not age specifically

to trip over one's own feet

vsto falter

Informal

1 6.8

To stumble or fall because you are clumsy

involves repeated tripping from weakness or uncertainty, not only clumsy mistakes

to overbalance

vsto falter

1 5.6

To lose balance and almost fall

involves repeated tripping from weakness or uncertainty rather than a single tip

to daddle

vsto falter

Archaic

9.9

To walk with small, unsteady steps

matches that unsteadiness but highlights repeated tripping from uncertainty

to coggle

vsto falter

9.9

To walk in a wobbly way as if about to fall

is similar but more about repeated tripping due to doubt or weakness

Antonyms

to stabilize

75 4.3

To become steady and stop changing

to stride

16 2.7

To walk with long confident steps toward a place

How Unsteady

to fall

∞ 1.0

to stagger

49 4.0

to falter

4 6.1

to stumble

129 1.6

to wobble

40 3.8

to walk

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

falter infinitive

faltered past

faltered past participle

faltering present participle

falters third person singular

Etymology

Falter is like fall or 'stumble' — picture someone walking and almost losing their balance. That's why to falter while walking means to move unsteadily or trip.