verb
stutter
STUH-tuh
Stutter (verb) means to speak with involuntary repetitions or pauses on certain sounds. Example: “He stuttered nervously through his wedding speech.”
verb
1
To speak with involuntary repetitions or pauses on certain sounds.
"He stuttered nervously through his wedding speech."
noun
1
A speech pattern marked by such repetitions or pauses.
"She has had a slight stutter since childhood."
How to use stutter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo repeat or get stuck on sounds while speaking, or the speech condition itself.
Common pairings
nervous stutter
stutter over words
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Word forms
- Plural
- stutters
- Third person singular
- stutters
- Past tense
- stuttered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ nervously through his wedding speech.
Etymology
From Middle English stutten, stoten ("to stutter"), related to Dutch stotteren.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for stutter
See all rhymes for stutter →Frequently asked questions
What does “stutter” mean?
The word “stutter” means to speak with involuntary repetitions or pauses on certain sounds. In plain terms, to repeat or get stuck on sounds while speaking, or the speech condition itself.
How do you pronounce “stutter”?
“Stutter” is pronounced STUH-tuh (/ˈstʌtɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “stutter” in a sentence?
Here is “stutter” used in a sentence: “He stuttered nervously through his wedding speech.”
What part of speech is “stutter”?
Depending on how it is used, “stutter” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “stutter” come from?
The word “stutter” comes from Middle English. From Middle English stutten, stoten ("to stutter"), related to Dutch stotteren.
How many meanings does “stutter” have?
“Stutter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to speak with involuntary repetitions or pauses on certain sounds.
