fumble

[ fuhm-buhl ]

/ ˈfʌm bəl /

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See synonyms for: fumble / fumbling / fumbler / fumblingly on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), fum·bled, fum·bling.

to feel or grope about clumsily: She fumbled in her purse for the keys.

Sports. to fumble the ball.

verb (used with object), fum·bled, fum·bling.

to make, handle, etc., clumsily or inefficiently: to fumble an attempt; He fumbled his way through the crowded room.

Sports. to fail to hold or maintain hold on (a ball) after having touched it or carried it.

noun

the act of fumbling: We completed the difficult experiment without a fumble.

Sports. an act or instance of fumbling the ball.

OTHER WORDS FOR fumble

3 bungle, botch, mishandle, spoil, muff.

See synonyms for fumble on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of fumble

1500–10; akin to Norwegian, Swedish fumla,Middle Low German fummeln to grope, fumble

OTHER WORDS FROM fumble

fumbler, nounfum·bling·ly, adverbfum·bling·ness, nounoutfumble, verb (used with object), out·fum·bled, out·fum·bling.

un·fum·bled, adjectiveun·fum·bling, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fumble in a sentence

Officials originally ruled the play a turnover on a fumble lost by Drake.
Kyler Murray runs out of miracles as Seahawks hang on to take over first place in NFC West|Mark Maske|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The Buccaneers generated a turnover to begin the second half, knocking the football from Drew Brees’s hand in the pocket before his arm started forward for a fumble.
Tom Brady and the Bucs were no match, again, for Drew Brees and the Saints|Mark Maske|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
The Ravens’ other touchdown came on a pivotal, 65-yard fumble return by the Ravens’ Chuck Clark, after Indianapolis had scored first while Baltimore’s offense struggled out of the gate against the Colts’ second-ranked defense.
Steelers stay unbeaten, Chargers drop another heartbreaker in NFL Week 9|Cindy Boren, Mark Maske, Des Bieler|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
Washington quarterback Kyle Allen passed for 280 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants in Week 6, but he also committed a pair of turnovers, including a fumble that was returned for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Four takeaways from Washington’s 23-20 loss to the Giants|Scott Allen|November 8, 2020|Washington Post

Recovering fumbles isn’t a skill, but some teams, such as the Dallas Cowboys, have lost out on almost eight points per game after accounting for when and where the fumble takes place.
The Bills, Bears and Browns aren’t as good as their records|Neil Greenberg|November 6, 2020|Washington Post
Huckabee framed the situation this way: “We are fumbling on multiple fronts.”
Iowa Frontrunner Mike Huckabee Talks to The Daily Beast|Lloyd Green|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Season one of OITNB chronicled her clumsy, fumbling attempts to get her legs under her so she could run for safety.
‘Orange Is the New Black’ Season Two Is More Bingeworthy Than the First|Kevin Fallon|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By fumbling that final big decision, Ferguson may have tarnished his legacy forever.
David Moyes: The Vanity of Alex Ferguson|Nico Hines|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But on the IRS story, there was systematic "fumbling" in the West Wing.
The White House and the IRS: A Carteresque Fiasco|Robert Shrum|May 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Fumbling over the words, he shouts, “This goddammed stutter!”
‘Hyde Park on Hudson’: Is Bill Murray as FDR an Oscar Frontrunner?|Marlow Stern|September 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And just as I came up I saw Mrs. Maloney, marvellously attired, fumbling with a lantern.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
She had opened the drawer of her deskthe top right-hand drawerand was fumbling in it.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
But the step that would raise one above all the little fumbling, blind-spawning, life hugging bipeds who infested the scene.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
"Door left unlocked—the ignorant hound—Good thing I don't trust him too far—" Some one came fumbling in and switched on the light.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower
The other man was fumbling the side curtains, swearing under his breath when his fingers bungled the fastenings.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower

British Dictionary definitions for fumble

fumble

/ (ˈfʌmbəl) /

verb

(intr; often foll by for or with) to grope about clumsily or blindly, esp in searchinghe was fumbling in the dark for the money he had dropped

(intr; foll by at or with) to finger or play with, esp in an absent-minded way

to say or do hesitantly or awkwardlyhe fumbled the introduction badly

to fail to catch or grasp (a ball, etc) cleanly

noun

the act of fumbling

Derived forms of fumble

fumbler, nounfumblingly, adverbfumblingness, noun

Word Origin for fumble

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish fumla

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fumble

OTHER WORDS FOR fumble

Origin of fumble

OTHER WORDS FROM fumble

Words related to fumble

How to use fumble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fumble

Derived forms of fumble

Word Origin for fumble