fumble B2 Topic:Actions & Processes US /ˈfʌmbəl/ UK /ˈfʌmbl̩/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to handle something clumsily or unsuccessfully He fumbled the ball and lost possession. 2 verb to search for something awkwardly or uncertainly She fumbled in her bag for the keys. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to handle something... bunglebotchmismanagemess upmuff 2 verb · to search for something... gropefeel aboutscrabblerummagefish ↔ Opposites catchgraspmanagehandle Word family Forms fumblers Etymology AI details From Middle English fumblen ('to grope; handle clumsily'), 14th c.; through Early Modern English fumble ('to handle awkwardly; blunder') to Modern English fumble. Topics Actions & Processes External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # fumble **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ˈfʌmbəl/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈfʌmbl̩/ ## Meanings 1. to handle something clumsily or unsuccessfully 2. to search for something awkwardly or uncertainly ## Examples - He fumbled the ball and lost possession. - She fumbled in her bag for the keys. ## Synonyms - bungle - botch - mismanage - mess up - muff - grope - feel about - scrabble - rummage - fish ## Antonyms - catch - grasp - manage - handle ## Etymology From Middle English fumblen ('to grope; handle clumsily'), 14th c.; through Early Modern English fumble ('to handle awkwardly; blunder') to Modern English fumble. ## AI Etymology Fumble comes from Middle English fumblen ('to grope; handle clumsily'), 14th c.; through Early Modern English fumble ('to handle awkwardly; blunder') to Modern English fumble. In current use it is a verb meaning "to handle something clumsily or unsuccessfully". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the older form, the route into English, and the present lexical sense. ## Topics - Actions & Processes markdown