grope

American  

[grohp] / groʊp /

verb (used without object)

groped, groping

1. to feel about with the hands; feel one's way.

   I had to grope around in the darkness before I found the light switch.

   Synonyms:

   fish, probe, fumble

2. to search blindly or uncertainly.

   He seemed to be groping for an answer to the question.

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verb (used with object)

groped, groping

1. to seek by or as if by groping.

   to grope one's way up the dark stairs.

2. Slang. to touch or fondle (someone) for sexual pleasure, especially without the person’s consent.

noun

1. an act or instance of groping.

2. Slang. an act or instance of sexually fondling another person.

grope British  

/ ɡrəʊp /

verb

1. to feel or search about uncertainly (for something) with the hands

2. (intr; usually foll by for or after) to search uncertainly or with difficulty (for a solution, answer, etc)

3. (tr) to find or make (one's way) by groping

4. slang (tr) to feel or fondle the body of (someone) for sexual gratification

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noun

1. the act of groping

Other Word Forms

• gropingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of grope

Before 900; Middle English gropien, Old English grāpian, derivative of grāp “grasp”; akin to gripe, grasp

Explanation

When you grope for something, you try to get a grip on it. If you drop your flashlight in a dark cave, you might grope around for it. Beware of snakes! If you're asked a question and you grope for an answer, you're at a loss for words. And if you can't find your cellphone, you might grope around in your backpack, hoping it just got buried beneath your homework. You can also grope another person, although I wouldn't recommend it: grope is usually used to describe touching that is unwanted.

Example Sentences

When the characters grope for a secret passageway, they receive an electric shock.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2024

You open your eyes and grope for your phone.

From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2024

Jameela Jamil, star of The Good Place, offered: "It should only be technical. It's like a stunt. Our job as actors is to make it not look technical. Nobody wants an impromptu grope."

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2022

If Mr. Biden makes concessions — we grope for a better word — to MBS, it would be on behalf of others as well as himself.

From Washington Post • May 21, 2022

I fumble the key into the keyhole, grope for the light switch.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• cast about
• flounder