grovel

American  

[gruhv-uhl, grov-] / ˈgrʌv əl, ˈgrɒv- /

verb (used without object)

groveled, groveling, grovelled, grovelling

1. to humble oneself or act in an abject manner, as in great fear or utter servility.

   Synonyms:

   pander, kowtow, fawn, toady, truckle

2. to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate, especially in abject humility, fear, etc.

3. to take pleasure in mean or base things.

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grovel British  

/ ˈɡrɒvəl /

verb

1. to humble or abase oneself, as in making apologies or showing respect

2. to lie or crawl face downwards, as in fear or humility

3. (often foll by in) to indulge or take pleasure (in sensuality or vice)

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Other Word Forms

• groveler noun
• grovelingly adverb
• groveller noun
• grovelling noun
• grovellingly adverb
• ungroveling adjective
• ungrovelling adjective

Etymology

Origin of grovel

1585–95; back formation from obsolete groveling (adv.), equivalent to obsolete grufe face down (< Old Norse ā grūfu face down) + -ling ², taken to be present participle

Example Sentences

After the commissioner makes this conceited Yank grovel, Marty simply replies, “It’s every man for himself where I come from.”

From Los Angeles Times

They want illiterate, groveling serfs, who live in fear and don’t stick around too long.

From Salon

Absolutely, but Colin is eager to please and genuinely loves to grovel.

From Los Angeles Times

If they failed to adequately grovel and praise him, he punished their states by delaying the needed supplies and publicly derided them as incompetent.

From Salon

For exactly a quarter of a century, I’ve grasped and groveled and guessed.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beseech
• fawn