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View synonyms for

fumble

[ fuhm-buhl ]

verb (used without object)

fumbled, fumbling.
  1. to feel or grope about clumsily:

    She fumbled in her purse for the keys.

  2. Sports. to fumble the ball.


verb (used with object)

fumbled, fumbling.
  1. to make, handle, etc., clumsily or inefficiently:

    to fumble an attempt; He fumbled his way through the crowded room.

    Synonyms: , , , ,

  2. Sports. to fail to hold or maintain hold on (a ball) after having touched it or carried it.

noun

  1. the act of fumbling:

    We completed the difficult experiment without a fumble.

  2. Sports. an act or instance of fumbling the ball.

fumble

/ ˈʌə /

verb

  1. intr; often foll by for or with to grope about clumsily or blindly, esp in searching

    he was fumbling in the dark for the money he had dropped

  2. intr; foll by at or with to finger or play with, esp in an absent-minded way
  3. to say or do hesitantly or awkwardly

    he fumbled the introduction badly

  4. to fail to catch or grasp (a ball, etc) cleanly
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of fumbling
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈڳܳ, noun
  • ˈڳܳԲ, adverb
  • ˈڳܳԲԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ڳܳb noun
  • ڳܳbԲ· adverb
  • ڳܳbԲ·Ա noun
  • dzܳЭܳb verb (used with object) outfumbled outfumbling
  • ܲ·ڳܳb adjective
  • ܲ·ڳܳbԲ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of fumble1

1500–10; akin to Norwegian, Swedish fumla, Middle Low German fummeln to grope, fumble
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Word History and Origins

Origin of fumble1

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish fumla
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Beijing is still fumbling with the keys because Chinese people are not spending enough.

From

Yet, Luke’s ultimately fleeting contributions to the cause say that a fumbling step is better than staying still.

From

Vance fumbled the Buckeyes' trophy to the stirring strands of "We Are The Champions."

From

Those willing him to win wondered if he was fumbling another golden chance to finally land the prize which had long eluded him.

From

Norris fumbled his qualifying lap and lined up sixth on the grid.

From

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