fumble Meaning & Definition
What Does Fumble Mean?
Fumble is a verb that means To handle nervously or awkwardly. It can also mean To grope awkwardly in trying to find something. As a noun, it means The dropping of a ball by accident. As a noun, it means A dessert similar to a cross between a fool and a crumble.
Fumble in Brief
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈfʌmbəl/ |
| Synonyms | blunder, grope and muff |
| Plural | fumbles |
| Verb forms | fumbles, fumbling, fumbled |
Fumble Definition (Verb)
- To handle nervously or awkwardly.
Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.
- To grope awkwardly in trying to find something
He fumbled for his keys.
- To blunder uncertainly.
He fumbled through his prepared speech.
- To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly.
to fumble for an excuse
- To drop a ball or a baton etc. by accident.
- To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over.
- Of a man, to sexually underperform.
Fumble as a Noun
- The dropping of a ball by accident.
- A clumsy sexual encounter.
Suzy and Jimmy had a fumble behind the bike shed.
- A blunder; a mistake.
another inept fumble by the government
Noun
- A dessert similar to a cross between a fool and a crumble.
Noun
- A ball etc. that has been dropped by accident.
Synonyms of Fumble
Fumble in a Sentence
Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.
He fumbled the key into the lock.
He fumbled for his keys.
He fumbled his way to the light-switch.
He fumbled through his prepared speech.
to fumble for an excuse
Suzy and Jimmy had a fumble behind the bike shed.
another inept fumble by the government
Word Forms & Grammar
fumble (third-person singular simple present fumbles, present participle fumbling, simple past and past participle fumbled)
fumble (plural fumbles)
Words That Rhyme With Fumble
Origin of Fumble
Origin 1: From late Middle English, from Low German fummeln, fommeln, fammeln (German fummeln),[1] or Dutch fommelen.[2]
Origin 2: Or, perhaps from a Scandinavian/North Germanic source; compare related Old Norse fálma, Icelandic fálma, Danish fumle, especially Swedish fumla, famla, with variants: fumbla (“fumble”), fambla (“famble”), related to Swedish fim, fem (Danish fim, Norwegian fim, feima), with a root meaning of “cover, coating of foam or figuratively ditto”, cognate to German Feim (“surf”) and English foam. Possibly has (a more or less unconscious) connection to fathom (via Old Norse faðmr, Swedish famn) in the sense of “embrace”.[1]
Origin 3: The ultimate origin for either could perhaps be imitative of fumbling.[3] Or, from Proto-Indo-European *pal- (“to shake, swing”), see also Latin palpo (“to pat, touch softly”), and possibly Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan (“to feel”).[4]
Origin 4: Blend of fool + crumble.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fumble
Is fumble a verb or a noun?
Fumble is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for fumble?
Close synonyms of fumble are blunder, grope and muff. See the full list of fumble synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of fumble?
The plural of fumble is fumbles.
What is the past tense of fumble?
The past tense of fumble is fumbled. The present participle is fumbling.