Fumble Definition

fŭmbəl
fumbled, fumbles, fumbling
verb
fumbled, fumbles, fumbling
To touch or handle nervously or idly.
Fumble with a necktie.
American Heritage
To search (for a thing) by feeling about awkwardly with the hands; grope clumsily.
Webster's New World
To proceed awkwardly and uncertainly; blunder.
Fumble through a speech.
American Heritage
To drop a ball that is in play.
American Heritage
To handle (a thing) clumsily or unskillfully; bungle.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
noun
fumbles
The act or fact of fumbling.
Webster's New World
A ball that has been fumbled.
American Heritage
A football, etc. that has been fumbled.
Webster's New World
The act or an instance of fumbling.
American Heritage
A ball that has been fumbled.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Fumble

Noun

Singular:
fumble
Plural:
fumbles

Origin of Fumble

  • Origin uncertain; perhaps from a Scandinavian source. Compare Old Norse falma, Swedish fumla, Danish fumle, German fummeln.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English fomelen to grope

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English fomelen to grope

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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