bumble

¹

[buhm-buhl]

verb (used without object)

bumbled, bumbling 

1. to bungle or blunder awkwardly; muddle.

   He somehow bumbled through two years of college.

2. to stumble or stagger.

3. to speak in a low, stuttering, halting manner; mumble.

verb (used with object)

bumbled, bumbling 

1. to do (something) clumsily; botch.

noun

1. an awkward blunder.

bumble

²

[buhm-buhl]

verb (used without object)

bumbled, bumbling 

1. to make a buzzing, humming sound, as a bee.

bumble

¹

/ ˈbʌmbəl /

verb

1. to speak or do in a clumsy, muddled, or inefficient way

   he bumbled his way through his speech

2. (intr) to proceed unsteadily; stumble

noun

1. a blunder or botch

bumble

²

/ ˈbʌmbəl /

verb

1. (intr) to make a humming sound

Other Word Forms

• bumbler noun
• bumbling noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bumble¹

1525–35; perhaps blend of bungle and stumble

Origin of bumble²

1350–1400; Middle English bomblen, frequentative of bomben to boom, buzz; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of bumble¹

C16: perhaps a blend of _bungle + _stumble

Origin of bumble²

C14 bomblen to buzz, boom, of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Could 9-8 be enough to bumble into the playoffs this season?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

After one bumbling year coached by Jerod Mayo, New England tapped Mike Vrabel to lead the team—and Sunday night’s win over the Bills marked the franchise’s biggest triumph in years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I bumbled my way through an explanation of not having had my coffee yet and leaving them in the car by mistake.

Read more on BBC

Fashion and the pursuit of style are, in a sense, a stumbling, bumbling journey.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It was a monumental deal, one that could come to define Thompson’s career and help repair Angel City’s brand as a rich club that has mostly bumbled its way through its first four seasons.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bobble 
• bungle 
• stumble