falter
gb/fˈɔltɚ/ us/fˈɔltɚ/
B2
English
elbizonytalanodik, meginog, megtorpan, meggyengül, akadozik, elcsuklik, megbotlik, visszaesik, megingás, megtorpanás
VERB
B2
1
meginog
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] falters; [someone] falters over [something]
She faltered when the interviewer asked about the gap on her résumé.
Elbizonytalanodott, amikor az interjúztató rákérdezett az önéletrajzában lévő kihagyásra.
He didn’t falter, even when everyone else questioned the plan.
Nem ingott meg, még akkor sem, amikor mindenki más megkérdőjelezte a tervet.
I started to answer, then faltered and looked down at my notes.
Learner examples
I faltered before I spoke.
Elbizonytalanodtam, mielőtt megszólaltam.
She faltered when she heard the news.
Elbizonytalanodott, amikor meghallotta a hírt.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it for a long delay; it usually suggests a brief hesitation or moment of doubt.
Meaning
hesitate or lose confidence
Collocations
falter for a moment
|falter briefly
|falter over a decision
|falter at the question
|falter under pressure
|falter on the answer
|falter in mid-sentence
|falter when asked
|falter in an interview
|falter at a crucial moment
Synonyms
hesitate (More general; falter often implies uncertainty showing outwardly.)
|
waver (Emphasizes changing resolve rather than a momentary pause.)
|
pause (Neutral; falter suggests doubt or lack of confidence.)
Antonyms
decide (To choose firmly rather than hesitate.)
|
proceed (To continue without stopping or uncertainty.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|decisions
Definition
to hesitate or become unsure
To hesitate, lose confidence, or show uncertainty, especially when speaking or making a decision.
VERB
B2
2
megtorpan
B2
meggyengül
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] falters
Negotiations faltered after both sides rejected the new terms.
A tárgyalások megtorpantak, miután mindkét fél elutasította az új feltételeket.
As interest rates rose, the housing market began to falter.
Ahogy emelkedtek a kamatlábak, az ingatlanpiac megtorpant.
Her determination never faltered during the long recovery.
Learner examples
The plan faltered after a few weeks.
A terv néhány hét után megtorpant.
Sales faltered in the winter.
Télen megtorpantak az eladások.
Common mistake:
Often used for progress, support, or performance; for complete stopping, words like 'collapse' or 'fail' may fit better.
Meaning
lose strength or momentum
Collocations
the economy falters
|growth falters
|progress falters
|support falters
|demand falters
|sales falter
|confidence falters
|momentum falters
|recovery falters
|the campaign falters
Synonyms
weaken (More direct; falter suggests an unsteady decline.)
|
flag (Often used for energy or effort running low.)
|
stumble (More sudden and dramatic; can imply making noticeable mistakes.)
Antonyms
strengthen (To become stronger rather than weaker.)
|
gain momentum (To accelerate or progress more strongly.)
Themes
business
|politics
|health
Definition
to become weaker or start failing
To become weaker or less effective, or to stop making steady progress.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] falters; [someone's] voice falters
His voice faltered as he tried to apologize.
Elcsuklott a hangja, miközben bocsánatot próbált kérni.
She faltered while reading the statement aloud.
Akadozva olvasta fel a nyilatkozatot.
I faltered and had to start the sentence again.
Learner examples
My voice faltered because I was nervous.
Akadozott a hangom, mert ideges voltam.
Common mistake:
Not the same as 'mumble' (speaking quietly/unclearly); falter is about uncertainty or emotion.
Meaning
speak with hesitation
Collocations
his voice faltered
|her voice faltered
|falter in mid-sentence
|falter over the words
|falter while reading
|falter through a speech
|falter with nerves
|falter from emotion
|falter when explaining
|falter while answering
Synonyms
stammer (Focuses on repeated sounds; falter can be just a pause or wavering.)
|
hesitate (More general; falter often implies the voice or delivery becomes unsteady.)
Antonyms
speak fluently (To speak smoothly without hesitation.)
|
declare (To state confidently and clearly.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
Definition
to speak with pauses because you are nervous or unsure
To speak in a way that shows hesitation or uncertainty, often with pauses or an unsteady voice.
VERB
C1
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] falters; [someone] falters on/over [something]
He faltered on the icy pavement but managed not to fall.
Megingott a jeges járdán, de sikerült nem elesnie.
Exhausted, she faltered as she reached the top step.
Kimerülten megingott, amikor felért a legfelső lépcsőfokra.
I felt dizzy and faltered for a second.
Learner examples
He faltered on the stairs.
Megbotlott a lépcsőn.
Common mistake:
For an actual fall, use 'fall' or 'trip'; falter often means you recover.
Meaning
walk unsteadily; stumble
Collocations
falter on the stairs
|falter on uneven ground
|falter in the dark
|falter and catch yourself
|falter with fatigue
|falter from dizziness
|falter in high heels
|falter on the ice
|falter as you climb
|falter at the curb
Synonyms
stumble (More common; often implies a more noticeable misstep.)
|
stagger (Suggests heavier, swaying movement, often from weakness or shock.)
Antonyms
stride (To walk strongly and confidently.)
|
steady (To become stable rather than unsteady.)
Themes
daily_life
|health
Definition
to walk unsteadily, almost falling
To move in an unsteady way, as if about to trip or fall.
VERB
C1
5
visszaesik
B2
akadozik
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] falters
The striker faltered in the second half and missed two clear chances.
A csatár a második félidőben visszaesett, és két tiszta helyzetet is kihagyott.
Our internet connection faltered during the video call.
Az internetkapcsolatunk akadozott a videóhívás közben.
The robot worked smoothly at first, then faltered under heavier loads.
Learner examples
My computer faltered during the update.
A számítógépem akadozott a frissítés közben.
Common mistake:
In sports and work, 'falter' usually implies a decline during a period, not a single mistake.
Meaning
perform less well; start failing
Collocations
the team faltered
|the defense faltered
|a player falters
|a runner falters
|the engine falters
|the system falters
|the service faltered
|their performance faltered
|the leader faltered
|the software faltered
Synonyms
slip (Often refers to a small decline or mistake.)
|
struggle (Emphasizes difficulty rather than loss of steadiness.)
|
break down (Stronger; suggests a more serious failure (especially for machines).)
Antonyms
excel (To perform exceptionally well.)
|
hold steady (To remain consistent rather than decline.)
Themes
sports
|work
|technology
Definition
to start doing worse or become unreliable
To begin to perform less well or become unreliable, especially after working well before.
NOUN
C1
6
megingás
B2
megtorpanás
B2
Usage pattern:
a falter (in [something])
There was a brief falter in his voice before he continued.
Rövid megingás hallatszott a hangjában, mielőtt folytatta.
She finished the routine without a falter.
Megingás nélkül fejezte be a gyakorlatot.
The speech had only one small falter near the end.
Learner examples
I heard a falter in his voice.
Meghallottam egy kis megingást a hangjában.
Common mistake:
Less common than the verb; many contexts prefer 'hesitation' or 'stumble'.
Meaning
a brief hesitation or stumble
Collocations
a slight falter
|a momentary falter
|without a falter
|a falter in his voice
|a falter in her step
|a falter in performance
|a falter in confidence
|a falter in delivery
|a falter in the rhythm
|a falter in progress
Synonyms
hesitation (More common and general.)
|
stumble (Often implies a more noticeable mistake or misstep.)
Antonyms
certainty (A firm, confident state without hesitation.)
|
fluency (Smooth speech without breaks.)
Themes
communication
|daily_life
Definition
a small hesitation or unsteady moment
A brief hesitation, loss of confidence, or unsteady moment in speech or movement.
Grammar
Dictionary form
falter
IPA
GB/fˈɔltɚ/
US/fˈɔltɚ/
Syllables & stress
fal - ter (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fal)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: falter
- 3rd Person Singular: falters
- Present Participle: faltering
- Past: faltered
Word family
Forms
falters
verb
faltering
verb
faltered
verb
Related words
falteringly
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unfaltering
adjective
unfalteringly
adverb
Expressions
falter in the face of
1/fˈɔltɚ ˈɪn ðə fˈeɪs əv/
fixed phrase
lose courage when confronted
to become less brave when something is difficult
Examples
- She refused to falter in the face of criticism.
- The company did not falter in the face of a sudden downturn.
- He faltered in the face of strong opposition from his team.
Learner examples
- Don’t falter in the face of problems.
without faltering
1/wɪðˈaʊt fˈɔltɚɪŋ/
fixed phrase
without hesitation or weakness
steadily, with no hesitation
Examples
- She answered without faltering, even under intense questioning.
- He kept walking without faltering despite the pain.
- The band played the fast section without faltering.
Learner examples
- He spoke without faltering.