- present participle of grope.
groping
Americanadjective
-
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of groping
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at grope, -ing 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She’s also spinning an intergenerational tale of Black women groping past their initial distrust to a deeper understanding of what they have in common.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
“You’re groping in the dark a little bit more.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026
Such people are groping for answers and meaning.
From Salon ● Feb. 25, 2025
Iran and the United States are groping their way out of several simultaneous crises, including over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
From New York Times ● May 19, 2024
He seemed to be groping about in the darkness.
From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers
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