grope
verb (used without object)
to feel about with the hands; feel one's way.
was groping
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past progressiveof grope.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The real analogy that the VA’s Mr. McDonald was groping for is France.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2016
But the fact that she was groping to distance herself from Netanyahu in a presidential debate was remarkable.
From Slate ● Apr. 15, 2016
Seeing in this gesture that he was groping toward sanity, we hired a lawyer.
From New York Times ● Jun. 22, 2012
He beat Ponting's outside edge, he varied his pace and the Australian captain was groping, still searching for the run to avoid the pair.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 6, 2010
When she knew her mother was groping for a word, she supplied it unthinkingly.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
