fumble

1 of 2

verb

fum·​ble ˈfəm-bəl 

fumbled; fumbling ˈfəm-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to grope for or handle something clumsily or aimlessly

b

: to make awkward attempts to do or find something

fumbled in his pocket for a coin

c

: to search by trial and error

d

: blunder

2

: to feel one's way or move awkwardly

3

a

: to drop or juggle or fail to play cleanly a grounder

b

: to lose hold of a football while handling or running with it

transitive verb

1

: to bring about by clumsy manipulation

2

a

: to feel or handle clumsily

b

: to deal with in a blundering way : bungle

3

: to make (one's way) in a clumsy manner

4

a

: misplay

fumble a grounder

b

: to lose hold of (a football) while handling or running

fumbler

ˈfəm-b(ə-)lər 

noun

fumblingly

ˈfəm-b(ə-)liŋ-lē 

adverb

fumble

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act or instance of fumbling

2

: a fumbled ball

Synonyms

Verb

• blow
• bobble
• boggle
• bollix (up)
• boot
• botch
• bugger (up)
• bumble
• bungle
• butcher
• dub
• flub
• fluff
• foozle
• foul up
• goof (up)
• louse up
• mangle
• mess (up)
• muck up
• muff
• murder
• screw up

Noun

• blunder
• bobble
• boo-boo
• boob [British]
• brick
• clanger [British]
• clinker
• error
• fault
• flub
• fluff
• gaff
• gaffe
• goof
• inaccuracy
• lapse
• miscue
• misstep
• mistake
• oversight
• screwup
• slip
• slipup
• stumble
• trip

Examples of fumble in a Sentence

Verb

She fumbled in her pocket for her keys.

They fumbled a good opportunity to take control of the market.

He was hit hard and fumbled on the 20-yard line.

He fumbled the ball on the 20-yard line.

Noun

played the entire piano piece without a single fumble

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After wide receiver Courtland Sutton fumbled at the goal line, the Panthers marched down the field on a 10-play, 98-yard scoring drive, which ended with Young finding Coker for a 15-yard touchdown pass. —Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2024

Even in that moment, he got stuck on a couple of words and fumbled the line. —Abc News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2024

Noun

The fourth misfire was initially ruled a fumble that led to a Titans touchdown, but it was later overturned by video replay and ruled an incomplete pass. —Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 10 Nov. 2024

For the Colts, meanwhile, a fumble ended one drive and a missed field goal another. —Andrew Greif, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish fumla to fumble

First Known Use

Verb

1534, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fumble

1 of 2 verb

fum·​ble ˈfəm-bəl 

fumbled; fumbling -b(ə-)liŋ 

: to feel about for or handle something clumsily

fumbler

-b(ə-)lər 

noun

fumble

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of fumbling

2

: a fumbled ball