- to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent, etc.; give way: Her courage did not falter at the prospect of hardship.
- to speak hesitatingly or brokenly.
- to move unsteadily; stumble.
- to utter hesitatingly or brokenly: to falter an apology.
- the act of faltering; an unsteadiness of gait, voice, action, etc.
- a faltering sound.
Origin of falter
Examples from the Web for faltering
He too warned that an ISIS victory would mark the end of the faltering peace process between the Turkish Kurds and Ankara.Impotent U.S. Airstrikes, Passive Turks and an ISIS Triumph
October 3, 2014
Models are always a few faltering footsteps away from breaking an ankle (or worse).Up, Up, Up: The Hottest High Heels in History
September 11, 2014
For one thing, the Chinese economy, after 35 years of virtually uninterrupted expansion, is faltering.At the U.S.-China Summit, Friendship Isn’t What Matters
Gordon G. Chang
June 7, 2013
The speech was the profound misdiagnosis of a faltering presidency—a misdiagnosis that is decidedly not the problem today.This Isn’t Obama’s Malaise, It’s GOP Intransigence
May 3, 2013
America needs a strategy to adapt to the faltering strength of its most important and congenial allies.America's European Allies Drop the Ball
May 2, 2013
My voice had a faltering, mournful sound, and there was no answer.In the Valley
Lucindy began her confession, with eyes down-dropped and a faltering voice.Meadow Grass
Boxtel muttered, with a faltering voice; "the thing is impossible."The Black Tulip
Alexandre Dumas (Pere)
At last, however, she succeeded in faltering out an explanation.Salted With Fire
"'Tis Max, Max Rodenstein," said the lady, with a faltering voice.Vivian Grey
Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli
- (intr) to be hesitant, weak, or unsure; waver
- (intr) to move unsteadily or hesitantly; stumble
- to utter haltingly or hesitantly; stammer
- uncertainty or hesitancy in speech or action
- a quavering or irregular sound
Word Origin and History for faltering
mid-14c., of unknown origin, possibly from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse faltrask "be burdened, hesitate, be troubled"), or a frequentative of Middle English falden "to fold," influenced by fault. Related: Faltered; faltering.