English

Verb

fumble ‎(third-person singular simple present fumbles, present participle fumbling, simple past and past participle fumbled)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To idly touch or nervously handle

   Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.

   He fumbled the key into the lock.

   • 2010 December 28, Owen Phillips, “Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool”, in BBC:

     Henderson's best strike on goal saw goalkeeper Kingson uncomfortably fumble his measured shot around the post.

2. (transitive, intransitive) To grope awkwardly in trying to find something

   He fumbled for his keys.

   He fumbled his way to the light-switch.

   • Fielding

     Adams now began to fumble in his pockets.

3. (intransitive) To blunder uncertainly.

   He fumbled through his prepared speech.

4. To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly.

   to fumble for an excuse

   • Chesterfield

     My understanding flutters and my memory fumbles.

   • Wordsworth

     Alas! how he fumbles about the domains.

5. (transitive, intransitive, sports) To drop a ball or a baton etc.
6. To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over.
   • Shakespeare

     I saw him fumble with the sheets, and play with flowers.

Translations

Noun

fumble ‎(plural fumbles)

1. (sports) A ball etc. that has been dropped

Translations