fumble
/ˈfʌmbəl/ verb C1- To handle nervously or awkwardly. · Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.· He fumbled the key into the lock.
- To grope awkwardly in trying to find something · He fumbled for his keys.· He fumbled his way to the light-switch.
- 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.
He/she/it fumbles · Past fumbled · Past participle fumbled · -ing form fumbling
Verb forms
- Base form
- fumble
- He/she/it
- fumbles
- Past
- fumbled
- Past participle
- fumbled
- -ing form
- fumbling
From the library
She appeared to be dazzled by the sudden blaze of light, and after dropping a curtsey, she stood blinking at us with her bleared eyes and fumbling in her pocket with nervous, shaky fingers.
He stood in the centre of the room, fumbling nervously with his hat and uncertain what to do.
Alice watched the White Rabbit as he fumbled over the list, feeling very curious to see what the next witness would be like, “—for they haven’t got much evidence _yet_,” she said to herself.
Other matches
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