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: muff, spoil, mishandle, botch, bungle

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

/ ˈfʌmbəl /

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

noun

1. the act of fumbling

Other Word Forms

• fumbler noun
• fumblingly adverb
• fumblingness noun
• outfumble verb (used with object)
• unfumbled adjective
• unfumbling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fumble¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fumble¹

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish fumla

Example Sentences

“I fell on a fumble, it wasn’t mine, I recovered it, and a guy fell on top of me and almost split my sternum.”

From Los Angeles Times

Jamie Lee Curtis fumbled her way through a game of pickleball there in the film “Freakier Friday.”

From Los Angeles Times

Wax, an undrafted free agent, earned a roster spot with an outstanding preseason, recording 18 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

From Los Angeles Times

They had two interceptions in the first half that ended with turnovers on fumbles during the returns.

From Los Angeles Times

There were 11 turnovers, with Simi Valley losing four fumbles and getting intercepted twice.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• botch 
• flub 
• mishandle 
• screw up 
• stumble