Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for groping on Thesaurus.com moving or going about clumsily or hesitantly; stumbling. showing or reflecting a desire to understand, especially something that proves puzzling: a groping scrutiny; a groping expression. Show More
Origin of groping Middle English word dating back to
1300–50; see origin at
grope ,
-ing2 Related forms grop·ing·ly , adverb verb (used without object), groped, grop·ing. to feel about with the hands; feel one's way: I had to grope around in the darkness before I found the light switch. to search blindly or uncertainly: He seemed to be groping for an answer to the question. Show More
verb (used with object), groped, grop·ing. to seek by or as if by groping: to grope one's way up the dark stairs. to touch or handle (someone) for sexual pleasure. Show More
an act or instance of groping. Slang an act or instance of sexually fondling another person. Show More
Origin of grope before 900; Middle English gropien, Old English grāpian, derivative of
grāp grasp; akin to
gripe ,
grasp Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for groping flounder ,
search ,
poke ,
handle ,
root ,
fish ,
explore ,
examine ,
fumble ,
touch ,
pry ,
manipulate ,
finger ,
scrabble ,
grabble Examples from the Web for groping Contemporary Examples of groping “He was groping for some way to phrase the emotions that usually were kept securely locked up,” said Eleanor.
The U.S. Open of Surfing dissolved into vandalism, looting, and groping .
Instead, Republicans are groping for answers as the slow march toward the fiscal cliff leaves them ever more divided.
They are groping for some modulation, some way to translate complicated moral intuitions into rules a society can live by.
I understand that groping our way toward a shared justice will never be easy, nor will it be perfect.
Historical Examples of groping Dorcas went to her bedroom, touching the walls, on the way, with her groping hands.
I caught at it, and, groping up the stairs, gained my high window-seat.
Do you suppose I'd want him to just go 'groping around' like he was telling you?
Luckily, the old Frenchman was groping his way next the other wall.
In college he had appealed to me because there I was groping and had found nothing.
British Dictionary definitions for groping (intr usually foll by for ) to feel or search about uncertainly (for something) with the hands (intr; usually foll by for or after) to search uncertainly or with difficulty (for a solution, answer, etc) (tr) to find or make (one's way) by groping (tr) slang to feel or fondle the body of (someone) for sexual gratification Show More
Derived Forms gropingly , adverb Word Origin for grope Old English grāpian; related to Old High German greifōn, Norwegian greipa; compare gripe
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for groping v. Old English grapian "to feel about (as one blind or in darkness)," originally "lay hold of, seize, touch, attain," related to gripan "grasp at" (see gripe ). Figurative sense is from early 14c. Indecent sense (marked as "obsolete" in OED) is from c.1200. Related: Groped ; groping . The noun is Old English grap .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
