fumble

[ fuhm-buhl ]

verb (used without object)

, fum·bled, fum·bling.

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)

, fum·bled, fum·bling.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈfumbler, noun
• ˈfumblingly, adverb
• ˈfumblingness, noun

Other Words From

• fumbler noun
• fumbling·ly adverb
• fumbling·ness noun
• outfumble verb (used with object) outfumbled outfumbling
• un·fumbled adjective
• un·fumbling 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

Palmer struggled that day for the Trojans, his 252 passing yards and two touchdowns offset by two interceptions, a fumble, six sacks and a run game that generated only 3.9 yards per carry.

From Los Angeles Times

They lost a ball on the first play of the fourth quarter when Herbert fumbled at the end of a seven-yard run.

From Los Angeles Times

But after Maiava fumbled away one drive deep in USC’s own territory, and the Trojans’ special teams squandered another with a blocked kick, Maiava stood behind the line on fourth and one, just across midfield.

From Los Angeles Times

Mission Viejo was fortunate it didn’t trail by a wider margin because Lee recovered a Centennial fumble at the Diablos’ 14.

From Los Angeles Times

Williams rushed for 62 yards in 15 carries and lost a fumble.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• botch
• flub
• mishandle
• screw up
• stumble