to scratch or scrape, as with the claws or hands.
to grapple or struggle with or as if with the claws or hands.
to scrawl; scribble.
to scratch or dig frantically with the hands; claw (often followed byat ).
scrabbling at a locked door to escape the flames.
to jostle or struggle for possession of something; grab or collect something in a disorderly way; scramble.
a scratching or scraping, as with the claws or hands.
a scrawled or scribbled writing.
a disorderly struggle for possession of something; scramble.
After the fumble, there was a scrabble for the football.
(intr; often foll by about or at) to scrape (at) or grope (for), as with hands or claws
to struggle (with)
to struggle to gain possession, esp in a disorderly manner
to scribble
the act or an instance of scrabbling
a scribble
a disorderly struggle
1530–40; < Dutch schrabbelen to scratch, frequentative of schrabben to scrape
To scrabble is to grasp or grope. If you lose your footing while rock climbing, you'll scrabble around with your fingers for a ledge to hang onto. The verb scrabble means to scratch or grab with your hands, the way you might search for something in a dark room or clutch at something frantically as you drop it. Scrabble also describes an animal's movements, like the sound of a squirrel that scrabbles, or scurries, out of your garbage can. Scrabble is also the name of a board game that involves making words out of letter tiles. Scrabble comes from the Dutch schrabben, "to scratch."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It might not be up to John Cena standards, but she’s clearly figured at least a few things out along her scrabble to undeniable stardom.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2024
Some people scrabble together their scant savings to make the payment or get the money from their relatives in the diaspora.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2024
“Imagine you have scrabble tiles that spell out ‘Powerball.’
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 19, 2023
Like my parents and many others I knew in the South Bronx, they scrabble to hang on and perhaps wonder if anyone sees or hears their distress.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2023
I scrabble back a little ways, grabbing Manchee by his scruff and taking him with me.
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
He was a bit better than me at the end, so I decided to propose a different game - Scrabble.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
I will not walk on a beach with you, but I will play Scrabble.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
PAWTUCKET, R.I.—The maker of Candyland, Monopoly and Scrabble has a new board game on its hands.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 1, 2026
Scrabble is, for me, a game that is dusted off once a year at Christmas.
From BBC ● Apr. 13, 2024
Mom’s morning Scrabble note said ADVIL, but I couldn’t find any.
From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead
She scrabbles to find her reason for being.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 30, 2023
So Pluto is doubly fitting for the doppelgänger who ascended from underground and scrabbles around on all fours.
From Slate ● Mar. 24, 2019
As his wife scrabbles with angry protesters and gripes about her compromised marriage, he is sequestered in the bathroom, represented only by a mordant song that his aide-de-camp sings on his behalf:
From The New Yorker ● May 9, 2016
Some have suggested Mr Cameron is a study in "government by essay crisis" - like a student who suddenly realises work is urgently overdue, and scrabbles to put something brilliant together at the last moment.
From BBC ● Dec. 3, 2014
She scrabbles across the floor and leaps onto Walter, licking his face and wagging so hard she topples backward.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
As she scrabbled for a laser pointer in her large handbag, her coloratura was comically on point, though she was inaudible in her middle range during the cabaletta.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2025
Swiss lawmakers have since scrabbled together six counterproposals.
From New York Times ● Mar. 12, 2023
Her rivals cantered on as she scrabbled on the floor.
From BBC ● Jan. 4, 2022
He scrabbled with all four paws, found some purchase, and scarpered up the slope and away.
From Slate ● Jan. 30, 2021
Wolf’s hind paws scrabbled wildly at the edge.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Imagine combat choreographed by ants, swarms of elbows and legs scrabbling to emerge victorious.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
Europe’s scrabbling together of funds to put into the pot is important here.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025
And, with the security of Europe under greater strain than at any time almost in living memory, can its leaders, who are currently scrabbling around, find an adequate response?
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2025
This is, though, where much of Europe has been for some time: scrabbling around for scraps from the Premier League’s table.
From New York Times ● Feb. 2, 2024
He was clinging to a tower miles high, and his fingers were slipping, nails scrabbling at the stone, his legs dragging him down, stupid useless dead legs.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
