English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
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 notes

In plain EnglishTo repeat or get stuck on sounds while speaking, or the speech condition itself.

Common pairings
nervous stutter stutter over words

Word forms

stuttered past tense, stutters plural, stutters singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “stutter” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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.

Origin: Middle English

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.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial