fumble

[fuhm-buhl]

verb (used without object)

fumbled, fumbling 

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)

fumbled, fumbling 

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

Other Word Forms

• fumbler noun
• fumblingly adverb
• fumblingness noun
• outfumble verb (used with object)
• unfumbled adjective
• unfumbling 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

On the first play of the ensuing possession, Stafford and Williams could not complete a handoff and the ball fell to the turf for a fumble that was recovered by the Colts.

From Los Angeles Times

All that, however, would be washed away with that loose ball in the end zone, the second fumble Illinois had coughed up that close to the end zone.

From Los Angeles Times

He could have thrown touchdowns all night but Hamilton was able to run off plenty of time in the first half with short passes until drives were halted by a fumble and interception.

From Los Angeles Times

But he then fumbled his opening ceremony speech on Wednesday.

From BBC

And they appeared to seize the momentum on the first series of the second half when Jared Verse sacked Jalen Hurts and forced a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Nate Landman.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• botch 
• flub 
• mishandle 
• screw up 
• stumble