fumbled; fumbling
ˈfəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
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
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
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
CBS News, 2 Mar. 2025
Arriving in England in 1929, Queenie fumbled around on the edges of the entertainment business, hoping to be an actor.
—Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Rob Reischel, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
In the game’s turning point, one play after the Dolphins recovered a Jacksonville fumble in the end zone while down 17-7, Hill took a long pass from Tua Tagovailoa 80 yards for a touchdown.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
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Verb
And Volodymyr Zelenskyy also fumbled the bag pretty hard.
—CBS News, 2 Mar. 2025
Arriving in England in 1929, Queenie fumbled around on the edges of the entertainment business, hoping to be an actor.
—Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
Davis also had two interceptions, 11 pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in 13 games last season before suffering a broken jaw in Week 15 that ended his season.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
In the game’s turning point, one play after the Dolphins recovered a Jacksonville fumble in the end zone while down 17-7, Hill took a long pass from Tua Tagovailoa 80 yards for a touchdown.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Cite this Entry
“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fumble. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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