falter
To waver or be unsteadyTo waver or be unsteady; to weaken or trail off.
» We can't allow ourselves to falter.
Wir können es uns nicht leisten zu scheitern.
Meaning
7 sensesTo waver or be unsteady; to weaken or trail off.
wanken, wackeln, schwächeln
дрогнутьdrognutʹ
похитнутисяpoxytnutysja, хитатисяxytatysja
(ambitransitive)To stammer; to utter with hesitation, or in a weak and trembling manner.
To fail in distinctness or regularity of exercise; said of the mind or of thought.
To stumble.
stolpern, straucheln
оступатьсяostupatʹsja, спотыкатьсяspotykatʹsja
спотикатисяspotykatysja
(figuratively)To lose faith or vigor; to doubt or abandon (a cause).
To hesitate in purpose or action.
zögern, zaudern, ins Stocken geraten
вагатисяvahatysja
To cleanse or sift, as barley.
- move hesitatingly, as if about to give way
- be unsure or weak
- walk unsteadily, tripping repeatedly
- speak haltingly
Examples
19 sentencesWe can't allow ourselves to falter.
deWir können es uns nicht leisten zu scheitern.
We never saw him hesitate or falter.
deWir sahen ihn nie zögern oder zagen.
Her voice always falters when she mentions her late father.
ruЕё голос всегда дрожит, когда она говорит о покойном отце.
deIhre Stimme stockt jedes Mal, wenn sie ihren verstorbenen Vater erwähnt.
As the economy faltered, his business was no longer profitable.
He faltered at the last second, costing them the game.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 3
By meaning 2
By meaning 3
Origin
From Middle English falteren (“to stagger; be unsteady, tremble, quiver; to stammer; be enFrom 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.
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Forms
falters, faltering, faltered, falteredSynonyms
6 synonymsWord family
2 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle