fumblefum‧ble /ˈfʌmbəl/ verb 
Word Origin Examples
She dressed, her cold fingers fumbling with the buttons.fumble for I fumbled around in my bag for a cigarette. She reached round to fumble the light on.2[intransitive, transitive] if you fumble with your words when you are speaking, you have difficulty saying somethingfumble for Asked for an explanation, Mike had fumbled for words. The second candidate fumbled her lines.3[intransitive, transitive] to drop a ball after catching it: Quarterback Rattay was hit and fumbled the ball.—fumble noun [countable]—fumbling noun [countable]
Word OriginWORD ORIGINfumble
Verb TableOrigin:
1500-1600 Probably from a Scandinavian languageVERB TABLE
fumble
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | fumble |
| he, she, it | fumbles | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | fumbled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have fumbled |
| he, she, it | has fumbled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had fumbled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will fumble |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have fumbled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am fumbling |
| he, she, it | is fumbling | |
| you, we, they | are fumbling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was fumbling |
| you, we, they | were fumbling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been fumbling |
| he, she, it | has been fumbling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been fumbling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be fumbling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been fumbling |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Thesaurus- Although she had sensed that a fiasco like this was inevitable, Amanda fumbled for an appropriate response.
- Even as her hand fumbled to open it, he thrust himself between her and the door, barring her way.
- He fumbled down a wall and pushed open a door.
- Most churches fumbled their efforts to respond to it.
Longman Language Activatorto hold something and turn it around in your hands► handle
Collocations to hold something and turn it around in your hands, for example to examine it or use it: · Please do not handle the fruit and vegetables.· This violin is very old and valuable and must be handled carefully.
► fiddle with to hold something small and keep turning it around in your hands, especially because you are nervous or bored: · Martina was fiddling nervously with her pen.· Stop fiddling with the remote control!
► play with to hold something in your hands and turn it around continuously for no reason: · She played with the red roses on the table as she talked.· Is it worth reading to our kids when they're busy playing with their hair or their teddy bears? Yes.
► fumble with to hold something with your fingers or in your hand, trying to move it in some way, but doing it carelessly or with difficulty: · She could hear someone fumbling with the handle of her door.· I fumbled drunkenly with the keys, dropping them to the floor.· He stood before them, his eyes lowered, fumbling with his hat.
to look for something in a bag, box, pocket etc► rummage/rummage about to look for something among a lot of other things that are all together by moving them around with your hands: rummage/rummage about in: · Louise rummaged in her bag and pulled out a small envelope.rummage/rummage about for: · He unzipped his school bag and rummaged about for a pencil.
► fish around also fish about British to look for a small object in a large or deep container, especially using just your hands: fish around in: · Sam fished about in his pockets and produced a few coins.fish around for: · He fished around in his bag for the letter.
► feel around also feel about British to search for something by touch without using your eyes: · She put her hand under the seat and felt around, but couldn't find anything.feel around for: · She felt around for the light switch.
► fumble around/about to use your hands to look for something in an awkward way, especially because it is dark or you are nervous or in a hurry: · The phone rang and, half-asleep, Winston fumbled about to find the receiver.fumble around/about in: · He fumbled around in the cupboard, desperately searching for his tablets.fumble around/about for: · He fumbled around on the ground for his glasses.
► go through to search someone's clothes, bags, or possessions very thoroughly: · Customs officials went through his luggage but found nothing.· You have no right to go through my personal possessions!
► search to search a person or their clothes to try to find drugs, weapons etc: be searched: · All visitors to the prison are thoroughly searched.search for: · The men were all searched for weapons and then allowed to enter.
► frisk if the police, airport officials etc frisk someone, they feel the person's clothes and body, looking for hidden weapons or drugs: · A guard frisked him expertly, then led him into a large room.be frisked: · We were stopped by the police and frisked before being allowed into the building.frisk somebody for something: · They pulled me aside and frisked me for weapons.
WORD SETS► Sportace, nounace, verbacrobat, nounacrobatic, adjectiveacrobatics, nounaction replay, nounaerobic, adjectiveaim, nounaim, verball-American, adjectiveall-seater, adjectivearena, nounAstroTurf, nounattack, verbaway, adverbaway, adjectiveback, nounbackhand, nounbackhanded, adjectivebackhander, nounbackspin, nounball, nounball game, nounbaseline, nounbat, nounbench, verbbleachers, nounblock, nounbobble, verbbout, nounbowl, nounbowl, verbbowling alley, nounbowling ball, nounbowling green, nounbox, nounbox, verbboxer, nounbronze, nounbronze medal, nounbye, nouncall, verbcall, nouncap, verbcaptain, nouncaptain, verbcaptaincy, nounchange, verbchanging room, nouncheer, nouncheerleader, nouncheerleading, nounchip, nounchip, verbcircuit training, nounclose season, nounclubhouse, nouncoach, nounconference, nouncontender, nouncourse, nouncourse, verbcourt, nouncover, verbcross, verbcross, nouncross-country, adjectivecrown, nouncup, nouncup final, nouncup tie, nouncurve, noundead, adjectivedecider, noundefence, noundefend, verbdefender, noundefensive, adjectivederby, noundisallow, verbdisqualify, verbdivision, noundivot, noundown, adverbdraft, noundraw, verbdraw, noundribble, verbdribble, noundrive, noundrop, verbdrop goal, noundropkick, noundrop shot, noundrubbing, noundugout, nouneleven, numberequalize, verbequalizer, nouneven, adjectiveevent, nounface, nounfast, adjectivefavourite, nounfeint, nounfield, verbfielder, nounfieldsman, nounfield sports, nounfight, verbfight, nounfighter, nounfinalist, nounfirst half, nounfirst-string, adjectivefixture, nounflat, adjectiveflip, nounfollow-through, nounfootball, nounfootwork, nounform, nounfoul, nounfoul line, nounfriendly, adjectivefull-court press, nounfull time, nounfumble, verbgala, noungame, noungame point, noungate, noungoal, noungoalie, noungoalkeeper, noungoalless, adjectivegoal line, noungoalmouth, noungoalpost, noungoaltender, noungold, noungold medal, noungrand slam, noungrandstand, nounground staff, noungym shoe, noungymslip, nounhalf, nounhalfback, nounhalf nelson, nounhalf-time, nounhammer, nounhandball, nounhand-eye co-ordination, nounhandicap, nounhandspring, nounhandstand, nounhat trick, nounhead start, nounheat, nounheavy, adjectivehiding, nounhome, adjectivein, adverbinfield, nouninjury time, nouninterference, nouninternational, nounjersey, nounjock, nounjockstrap, nounjogging suit, nounjump, nounjump ball, nounjumper, nounjumping jack, nounjump shot, nounjunior varsity, nounlane, nounleague table, nounletter, nounletter, verblevel, verblineman, nounlinesman, nounline-up, nounlocker, nounlocker room, nounluge, nounmallet, nounmanager, nounmark, verbmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatch, nounmedal, nounmedallist, nounmeeting, nounMexican wave, nounmidfield, nounmisfield, verbmixed doubles, nounmotocross, nounmotor racing, nounmuff, verbmusclebound, adjectivemuscleman, nounnet, nounnet, verbnetball, nounnil, nounno ball, nounoarsman, nounoarswoman, nounobstruction, nounoffense, nounoffensive, adjectiveoffside, adjectiveOlympiad, nounOlympic, adjectiveOlympic Games, the, onside, adjectiveopener, nounopponent, nounout, adverbout, nounoutdistance, verboutsider, nounoverarm, adjectiveoverhand, adjectiveown goal, nounpacesetter, nounpass, verbpass, nounPE, nounpenalty, nounpep rally, nounperiod, nounphoto finish, nounphysical education, nounpitch, nounplace kick, nounplayable, adjectiveplay-by-play, nounplayer, nounplaying field, nounplay-off, nounpoint, nounpole, verbposition, nounpossession, nounpost, nounpreliminary, nounpro-am, nounprofessionalism, nounpromote, verbpromotion, nounPT, nounpull, verbpull-up, nounpummel, verbpunchbag, nounqualifier, nounqualify, verbquarter-final, nounrace, verbracetrack, nounracing, adjectiveracket, nounrain check, nounrally, nounrecord, nounrecord-holder, nounrecreation ground, nounref, nounreferee, nounreferee, verbregatta, nounrelay, nounrelay race, nounrelegate, verbreplay, verbreplay, nounrerun, verbreserve, nounretire, verbreturn, verbrevenge, nounringside, nounroll, nounrookie, nounround, nounround robin, nounrunner, nounrunner-up, nounrun-up, nounsave, verbsave, nounscore, nounscore, verbscorer, nounscratch, verbscratch, adjectivescreen, nounscrimmage, nounselector, nounsemi, nounsemi-final, nounsemi-finalist, nounsemi-professional, adjectiveserve, verbserve, nounserver, nounservice, nounset, nounshoot, verbshoot, nounshot, nounsideline, nounsilver, nounsilver medal, nounskate, nounskipper, nounslaughter, verbslice, verbslick, nounslump, nounsnowmobile, nounsnowshoe, nounsomersault, nounsouthpaw, nounspar, verbsparring partner, nounspectate, verbspectator, nounspectator sport, nounspin, nounsports centre, nounsports day, nounsportsmanship, nounsporty, adjectivespot, verbsprint, verbsquad, nounstadium, nounstagger, verbstart, nounstarter, nounstarting blocks, nounstayer, nounstick, nounstraight, nounstrip, nounstroke, nounstud, nounsub, nounsudden death, nounsweatband, nounsweatpants, nounsweat suit, nountackle, verbtackle, nountalent scout, nountarget, nounteam-mate, nounthree-legged race, nounthrow, nounthrust, verbtie, nountiebreaker, nountight, adjectivetime, verbtimekeeper, nountime out, nountitle, nountitle holder, nountopspin, nountoreador, nountour, nountournament, nountrack, nountrain, verbtransfer fee, nountrophy, nountryout, nounumpire, nounumpire, verbunbeatable, adjectiveundecided, adjectiveunderarm, adverbunderhand, adverbunplaced, adjectiveuppercut, nounvarsity, nounvolley, nounvolley, verbwalking, nounwarm-up, nounwet suit, nounwhippet, nounwhistle, verbwhistle, nounwin, nounwing, nounwinger, nounworkout, nounwristband, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► around
1 (also fumble around) [intransitive, transitive] to try to hold, move, or find something with your hands in an awkward wayfumble at/in/with· After fumbling around with it, the boot suddenly swung open.· Then, too, the Saints were fumbling around with their quarterbacks.· George Grindal returned to the doorway and fumbled around on the wall, wondering if there was a light switch.· Joe continued to fumble around, and kept asking Geoffrey for extra items from the food stores.· Then he fumbled around on the ground for his glasses.· Why shave after you get home to the pitch black cabin and repeat the fumbling around?· The thought of her husband fumbling around in bed and urgently attempting to rouse her left her feeling suddenly depressed.· I fumbled around in the dark for a candle.
NOUN► ball· Have you ever seen Dean Richards fumble a ball?· Fittingly, their comeback try ended with Damon Dunn fumbling the ball away after a completion near midfield.· In addition, Troy Walters fumbled the ball two of the first three times he touched it.
► pocket· He pulled the small plastic box free and laid it on top of the crate, fumbling in his jacket pocket for something.· She looked at him, then fumbled madly in her pockets for the roll, passing it to him desperately.· Stuart had fumbled nervously in his pockets, wondering how much he should give, just change, surely.· Then he was there, fumbling in his pockets for change.· She fumbled in her pocket for the key then let us in the side door.· At the top I fumbled in my pockets for my key.· He fumbled in his jacket pocket and came out with a tobacco pouch and a pipe and offered the pouch to Wycliffe.· I fumbled in my back pocket and handed him the crumpled note.
► word· He often fumbles for the right words to explain his policies.
She dressed, her cold fingers fumbling with the buttons.fumble for I fumbled around in my bag for a cigarette. She reached round to fumble the light on.2[intransitive, transitive] if you fumble with your words when you are speaking, you have difficulty saying somethingfumble for Asked for an explanation, Mike had fumbled for words. The second candidate fumbled her lines.3[intransitive, transitive] to drop a ball after catching it: Quarterback Rattay was hit and fumbled the ball.—fumble noun [countable]—fumbling noun [countable]