fumble

fum·ble

Use fumble in a sentence

noun

The definition of a fumble is an awkward handling or searching or a dropping of something, particularly in football.
An example of a fumble is the dropping of a football.

verb

Fumble is defined as to clumsily search or handle, or to lose hold of an object, particularly in football.
An example of fumble is to go through a drawer in the dark searching for an item.

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MLA Style

"fumble." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 11 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Fumble>.

APA Style

fumble. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Fumble

fumble

intransitive verb

transitive verb

-·bled, -·bling

to search (for a thing) by feeling about awkwardly with the hands; grope clumsily
to handle (a thing) clumsily or unskillfully; bungle
to lose one's grasp on (a football, etc.) while trying to catch or hold it
to make (one's way) clumsily or by groping

Origin of fumble

variant, variety of Middle English famelen, probably from Old Norse famla, akin to Dutch fommeln, German fummeln

the act or fact of fumbling
a football, etc. that has been fumbled

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"fumble." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 11 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Fumble>.

APA Style

fumble. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Fumble

fumble

verb

fum·bled, fum·bling, fum·bles

verb

intransitive

To touch or handle nervously or idly: fumble with a necktie.
To grope awkwardly to find or to accomplish something: fumble for a key.
To proceed awkwardly and uncertainly; blunder: fumble through a speech.
a. Football To drop a ball that is in play.
b. Baseball To mishandle a ground ball.

verb

transitive

To touch or handle clumsily or idly: “fumbled the skeleton key into the lock and turned it” ( Bentley Dadmun )
To make a mess of; bungle. See Synonyms at botch.
To feel or make (one's way) awkwardly.
a. Football To drop (a ball) while in play.
b. Baseball To mishandle (a ground ball).

noun

The act or an instance of fumbling.
Sports A ball that has been fumbled.

Origin of fumble

Middle English fomelen to grope

Related Forms:

fum′bler
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"fumble." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 11 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Fumble>.

APA Style

fumble. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Fumble

Verb

(third-person singular simple present fumbles, present participle fumbling, simple past and past participle fumbled)

(intransitive) To idly touch or nervously handle
Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.
He fumbled the key into the lock.
(intransitive) To grope awkwardly in trying to find something
He fumbled for his keys.
He fumbled his way to the light-switch.
(intransitive) To blunder uncertainly.
He fumbled through his prepared speech.
To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly.
to fumble for an excuse
(intransitive, sports) To drop a ball or a baton etc.
To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over.