falter

Falter is an English verb with several related senses. Intransitively, it means to lose strength or momentum, to stumble physically, or to move unsteadily. It also refers to hesitating or wavering in decision or purpose, and to speaking with a momentary break in confidence. A machine or plan may falter if it fails to function reliably or to progress as expected.

As a noun, a falter denotes a momentary lapse or stumble, or a decline in progress or confidence. For example, a voice may betray a falter during a speech, or a political campaign may experience a falter in the polls.

The word’s exact origins are uncertain. It first appears in Middle English, and its full etymology is not clearly established. It is often linked to ideas of falling or wavering, but precise linguistic roots are not universally agreed upon.

Falter is commonly used in contexts ranging from physical movement to abstract performance. Phrases such as falter in, falter due to, or falter for illustrate how a lack of steadiness can affect outcomes in daily life, technology, or discourse. Related terms include stumble, hesitate, waver, and totter. The term remains a flexible descriptor of brief loss of steadiness, whether due to fatigue, doubt, or external pressure.