verb
fumble
FUHM-buhl
verb
1
To handle something clumsily or nervously, often dropping or mishandling it.
"He fumbled with his keys in the dark."
"She fumbled the presentation after losing her notes."
2
In sports, to accidentally drop the ball.
"The running back fumbled on the two-yard line."
noun
1
An instance of dropping or clumsily mishandling something, especially in sport.
"The fumble cost them the game."
How to Use Fumble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo handle something awkwardly, or (informally) to badly mess up a chance or moment.
Common pairings
fumble the ball
fumble with
fumble an opportunity
Word Forms
fumbled past tense, fumbles plural, fumbles plural, fumbles singular
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Etymology
Likely from Low German or Dutch fummelen, "to fumble," possibly related to Scandinavian words for clumsy groping.