fumble
verb (used without object)
to feel or grope about clumsily.
had fumbled
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past perfectof fumble.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
It wasn’t going to fall to running back James Cook, who had fumbled twice already.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
The company, which offers credit cards used to make rent and mortgage payments, had fumbled a critical transition, leading to confusion and financial stress for its customers.
From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026
Officials initially ruled that Stafford had fumbled and that the Vikings had returned it for a touchdown.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 18, 2025
But he said the F.D.A. had fumbled by allowing A.I. developers to keep their “secret sauce” under wraps and failing to require careful studies to assess any meaningful benefits.
From New York Times ● Oct. 30, 2023
I had fumbled and tripped and spilled the gold.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
