grovel

grov·el

G0287700 (grŏv′əl, grŭv′-)intr.v. grov·eled, grov·el·ing, grov·els also grov·elled or grov·el·ling 1. To behave in a servile or obsequious manner.2. To lie or creep in a prostrate position, as in subservience or humility.3. To give oneself over to base pleasures: "Have we not groveled here long enough, eating and drinking like mere brutes?" (Walt Whitman).

[Back-formation from obsolete groveling, prone, face downward, from Middle English : (on) grufe, face downwards (from Old Norse ā grūfu, from grūfa, to grovel) + -ling, adv. suff.; see -ling².]

grov′el·er n.

grovel

(ˈɡrɒvəl) vb (intr) , -els, -elling or -elled, -els, -eling or -eled1. to humble or abase oneself, as in making apologies or showing respect2. to lie or crawl face downwards, as in fear or humility3. (often foll by in) to indulge or take pleasure (in sensuality or vice)[C16: back formation from obsolete groveling (adv), from Middle English on grufe on the face, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse ā grūfu, from grūfa prone position; see -ling²] ˈgroveller, ˈgroveler n ˈgrovelling, ˈgroveling n, adj ˈgrovellingly, ˈgrovelingly adv

grov•el

(ˈgrɒv əl, ˈgrʌv-)

v.i. -eled, -el•ing (esp. Brit.) -elled, -el•ling. 1. to humble oneself or act in an abject manner. 2. to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate in abject humility, fear, etc. 3. to take pleasure in base things. [1585–95; back formation from obsolete groveling (adv.) = obsolete grufe face down (< Old Norse ā grūfu face down) + -ling²] grov′el•er, esp. Brit., grov′el•ler, n.

grovel

, groveling - Grovel is a back-formation from groveling—which first meant "face downward in a prone or prostrate position."See also related terms for prone.

grovel

Past participle: grovelled
Gerund: grovelling

Imperative
grovel
grovel

Present
I grovel
you grovel
he/she/it grovels
we grovel
you grovel
they grovel

Preterite
I grovelled
you grovelled
he/she/it grovelled
we grovelled
you grovelled
they grovelled

Present Continuous
I am grovelling
you are grovelling
he/she/it is grovelling
we are grovelling
you are grovelling
they are grovelling

Present Perfect
I have grovelled
you have grovelled
he/she/it has grovelled
we have grovelled
you have grovelled
they have grovelled

Past Continuous
I was grovelling
you were grovelling
he/she/it was grovelling
we were grovelling
you were grovelling
they were grovelling

Past Perfect
I had grovelled
you had grovelled
he/she/it had grovelled
we had grovelled
you had grovelled
they had grovelled

Future
I will grovel
you will grovel
he/she/it will grovel
we will grovel
you will grovel
they will grovel

Future Perfect
I will have grovelled
you will have grovelled
he/she/it will have grovelled
we will have grovelled
you will have grovelled
they will have grovelled

Future Continuous
I will be grovelling
you will be grovelling
he/she/it will be grovelling
we will be grovelling
you will be grovelling
they will be grovelling

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been grovelling
you have been grovelling
he/she/it has been grovelling
we have been grovelling
you have been grovelling
they have been grovelling

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been grovelling
you will have been grovelling
he/she/it will have been grovelling
we will have been grovelling
you will have been grovelling
they will have been grovelling

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been grovelling
you had been grovelling
he/she/it had been grovelling
we had been grovelling
you had been grovelling
they had been grovelling

Conditional
I would grovel
you would grovel
he/she/it would grovel
we would grovel
you would grovel
they would grovel

Past Conditional
I would have grovelled
you would have grovelled
he/she/it would have grovelled
we would have grovelled
you would have grovelled
they would have grovelled

Thesaurus

Verb

grovel - show submission or fearfawn, cringe, cower, crawl, creepbend, flex - form a curve; "The stick does not bend"

grovel

verb1. humble yourself, creep, crawl, flatter, fawn, pander, cower, toady, kowtow, brown-nose (taboo slang), bow and scrape, kiss ass (taboo slang), lick someone's boots, lick someone's arse (taboo slang), demean yourself, abase yourself I refuse to grovel to anybody.
humble yourself be proud, intimidate, hold your head high, domineer2. crawl, crouch, go on hands and knees, go on all fours We grovelled around on our knees, hunting for the key.

grovel

verbTo support slavishly every opinion or suggestion of a superior:bootlick, cringe, fawn, kowtow, slaver, toady, truckle.Informal: apple-polish, brownnose, cotton.Slang: suck up.Idioms: curry favor, dance attendance, kiss someone's feet, lick someone's boots.

Translations

卑躬屈膝

grovel

(ˈgrovl) – past tense, past participle ˈgrovelled , (American) ˈgroveled – verb to make oneself (too) humble. He grovelled before his leader.卑躬屈膝

grovel

To interact with someone in an overtly agreeable or deferential manner. Well, if your mother's mad at me, I guess I'm going to have to grovel—we want this family dinner to be pleasant, after all. Come, we must grovel before the king.

grovel before (someone)

To interact with someone in an overtly agreeable or deferential manner. The phrase can also specifically refer to the act of prostration. Well, if your mother's mad at me, I guess I'm going to have to grovel before her—we want this family dinner to be pleasant, after all. Get down and grovel before your king.See also: before, grovel

grovel in (something)

1. To interact with someone in an overtly agreeable or deferential manner, usually with a particular aim (indicated after "in"). Well, if your mother's mad at me, I guess I'm going to have to grovel in apology—we want this family dinner to be pleasant, after all.2. To show one's respect or deference by lying down on the ground in some specific substance. I won't grovel in filth for anyone!See also: grovel

grovel about in (something)

To show one's respect or deference by lying down on the ground in some specific substance. I won't grovel about in filth for anyone!See also: grovel

grovel to (someone)

To interact with someone in an overtly agreeable or deferential manner. It can also refer specifically to the act of kneeling or prostration. Well, if your mother's mad at me, I guess I'm going to have to grovel to her—we want this family dinner to be pleasant, after all. Get down and grovel to your king!See also: grovel

grovel (about) in something

to wallow around in the dirt, etc., while prostrating oneself. The poor fellow groveled about in the mud, trying to keep from being beaten. Why are you there, groveling in the dust?See also: grovel

grovel before someone or something

to prostrate oneself before someone or something. The prisoner groveled before his accusers. The peasant groveled before the lord of the manor.See also: before, grovel

grovel to someone

to kneel in deference to someone; to kowtow to someone. You don't have to grovel to me! I refuse to grovel to anyone.See also: grovel

grovel

(ˈgrɑvlæ) in. to fondle or pet. They spent the whole time in the backseat groveling.

grovel

grov·el

grovel

grov•el

grovel

grovel

grovel

grovel

grovel

grovel

grovel

grovel before (someone)

grovel in (something)

grovel about in (something)

grovel to (someone)

grovel (about) in something

grovel before someone or something

grovel to someone

grovel

grovel

grovel

grovel

grovel

Synonyms for grovel

verb humble yourself

Synonyms

Antonyms

verb crawl

Synonyms

Synonyms for grovel

verb to support slavishly every opinion or suggestion of a superior

Synonyms

Synonyms for grovel

verb show submission or fear

Synonyms

Related Words