bumble

¹

[buhm-buhl]

verb (used without object)

bumbled, bumbling 

1. to bungle or blunder awkwardly; muddle.

   He somehow bumbled through two years of college.

2. to stumble or stagger.

3. to speak in a low, stuttering, halting manner; mumble.

verb (used with object)

bumbled, bumbling 

1. to do (something) clumsily; botch.

noun

1. an awkward blunder.

bumble

²

[buhm-buhl]

verb (used without object)

bumbled, bumbling 

1. to make a buzzing, humming sound, as a bee.

bumble

¹

/ ˈbʌmbəl /

verb

1. to speak or do in a clumsy, muddled, or inefficient way

   he bumbled his way through his speech

2. (intr) to proceed unsteadily; stumble

noun

1. a blunder or botch

bumble

²

/ ˈbʌmbəl /

verb

1. (intr) to make a humming sound

Other Word Forms

• bumbler noun
• bumbling noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bumble¹

1525–35; perhaps blend of bungle and stumble

Origin of bumble²

1350–1400; Middle English bomblen, frequentative of bomben to boom, buzz; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of bumble¹

C16: perhaps a blend of _bungle + _stumble

Origin of bumble²

C14 bomblen to buzz, boom, of imitative origin

Example Sentences

A bumbling Defense secretary who lacks the competence to organize a two-car military procession.

From Los Angeles Times

As “The Carpool Detectives” recounts, the women sought out the help of sometimes-reluctant police officers and the victims’ family members, bumbling at times as newbie investigators.

From Los Angeles Times

The bumbling rocker dad is gentle, laughable even, and you very much believed his younger version was capable of snorting ants, one of those legends he alternatively denied and confirmed throughout his career.

From Salon

And yet I sympathize — and even agree — with what Gonzalez was really getting at, as imperfect and bumbling as she was.

From Los Angeles Times

When, in the farcical, action-oriented second half, some attempt to execute a … plot, they bumble and argue and push each other to the front.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bobble 
• bungle 
• stumble