Fumble
verb
To handle something clumsily.
He fumbled with his keys in the dark.
Often appears as...
- fumble with something
- fumble in the dark
verb
In sports, to drop the ball.
The player fumbled the ball at the critical moment of the match.
Often appears as...
- fumble the ball
- fumble a catch
verb
To speak or act in a confused or unsure way.
He fumbled over his words during his speech.
Often appears as...
- fumble for words
- fumble over words
noun
An act of dropping the ball.
The fumble cost the team the match.
Often appears as...
- cause a fumble
- recover a fumble
verb
To handle something clumsily.
He fumbled with his keys in the dark.
Often appears as...
- fumble with something
- fumble in the dark
verb
In sports, to drop the ball.
The player fumbled the ball at the critical moment of the match.
Often appears as...
- fumble the ball
- fumble a catch
verb
To speak or act in a confused or unsure way.
He fumbled over his words during his speech.
Often appears as...
- fumble for words
- fumble over words
noun
An act of dropping the ball.
The fumble cost the team the match.
Often appears as...
- cause a fumble
- recover a fumble
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Clumsiness
Describes someone handling objects in a way that they might drop or lose grip of them.
She fumbled with her glasses before putting them on.
Pro Tip 2/3Feeling Pressured
Implies nervousness or anxiety which leads to handling things ineptly.
During the interview, nervously, he fumbled with his pen.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Can be used figuratively to mean having difficulty with an abstract concept.
I fumbled with the concept of relativity.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Clumsiness
Describes someone handling objects in a way that they might drop or lose grip of them.
She fumbled with her glasses before putting them on.
Pro Tip 2/3Feeling Pressured
Implies nervousness or anxiety which leads to handling things ineptly.
During the interview, nervously, he fumbled with his pen.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Can be used figuratively to mean having difficulty with an abstract concept.
I fumbled with the concept of relativity.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Clumsiness
Describes someone handling objects in a way that they might drop or lose grip of them.
She fumbled with her glasses before putting them on.
Pro Tip 2/3Feeling Pressured
Implies nervousness or anxiety which leads to handling things ineptly.
During the interview, nervously, he fumbled with his pen.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Can be used figuratively to mean having difficulty with an abstract concept.
I fumbled with the concept of relativity.
Never forget "Fumble"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
A glimpse of the future...
you're doing it in pretty much the same way. You're hunched over these rectangles, fumbling with buttons and menus and more rectangles. And I think this is the wrong way, I think we can start using a much more natural machine. We should use machines that bring our work back into the world. We should use machines that use the principles of neuroscience
Video examples
How to stay calm when...
it was very cold. And as I stood on the front porch fumbling in my pockets, I found I didn't have my keys. In fact, I could see them through the window, lying on the dining room table where I had left them. So I quickly ran around and tried all the other doors and windows, and they were locked tight.
Video examples
Don't Try This at Home PIPE...
looked down to the river and there's Howard in a canoe he's got no life vest no helmet come on I look over at Steve next to me Steve's on his final shot oh that was a terrible shot I have enough strength he's still fumbling with his this thing and I figure I got nothing to
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
there was no way that anyone could have predicted what was just about to happen. I was leaving a seminar when it started, humming to myself, fumbling with my bag just as I'd done a hundred times before, when suddenly I heard a voice calmly observe,
Video examples
Why should you read...
while the choir itself first appears as “something dark... fumbling along” the beach. Within hours of their arrival, the boys are already trading terrifying rumors of a vicious “beastie” lurking in the woods. From these ominous beginnings,
Video examples
Experiencing art as...
unfold them flat planner on to standard sheets of material here you can say see a world set of four by eight standard sheet of aluminium where all the parts are described on to it and eventually a real fumble that in a complete similar
Video examples
Technology that protects...
key your car key you can use it to replace your access badge at work instead of fumbling for all of these things that we carry around to represent who we are you simply tap your hand and most importantly you can replace the
Video examples
Baby Siamese Crocodiles...
wizards time and a night all the eggs in nobody's family afternoon so you lost hi rainy potential fumbling crocodiles here well this business said I think 25 days
Video examples
Leopard Learns How to...
It was like playing with soap in the shower. He just sort of fumbled around and didn't know what to do. There's mud being splattered on his body and on his face.
Video examples
ONE HOUR of Amazing...
it was like playing with soap in the shower he just sort of fumbled around didn't know what to do
Video examples
A glimpse of the future...
you're doing it in pretty much the same way. You're hunched over these rectangles, fumbling with buttons and menus and more rectangles. And I think this is the wrong way, I think we can start using a much more natural machine. We should use machines that bring our work back into the world. We should use machines that use the principles of neuroscience
Video examples
How to stay calm when...
it was very cold. And as I stood on the front porch fumbling in my pockets, I found I didn't have my keys. In fact, I could see them through the window, lying on the dining room table where I had left them. So I quickly ran around and tried all the other doors and windows, and they were locked tight.
Video examples
Don't Try This at Home PIPE...
looked down to the river and there's Howard in a canoe he's got no life vest no helmet come on I look over at Steve next to me Steve's on his final shot oh that was a terrible shot I have enough strength he's still fumbling with his this thing and I figure I got nothing to
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
there was no way that anyone could have predicted what was just about to happen. I was leaving a seminar when it started, humming to myself, fumbling with my bag just as I'd done a hundred times before, when suddenly I heard a voice calmly observe,
Video examples
Why should you read...
while the choir itself first appears as “something dark... fumbling along” the beach. Within hours of their arrival, the boys are already trading terrifying rumors of a vicious “beastie” lurking in the woods. From these ominous beginnings,
Video examples
Experiencing art as...
unfold them flat planner on to standard sheets of material here you can say see a world set of four by eight standard sheet of aluminium where all the parts are described on to it and eventually a real fumble that in a complete similar
Video examples
Technology that protects...
key your car key you can use it to replace your access badge at work instead of fumbling for all of these things that we carry around to represent who we are you simply tap your hand and most importantly you can replace the
Video examples
Baby Siamese Crocodiles...
wizards time and a night all the eggs in nobody's family afternoon so you lost hi rainy potential fumbling crocodiles here well this business said I think 25 days
Video examples
Leopard Learns How to...
It was like playing with soap in the shower. He just sort of fumbled around and didn't know what to do. There's mud being splattered on his body and on his face.
Video examples
ONE HOUR of Amazing...
it was like playing with soap in the shower he just sort of fumbled around didn't know what to do
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Travis Kelce
American Football Player
If you ever are fortunate enough to experience an open field in front of you as a tight end - and honestly, that's something not many guys at this position ever get to experience in the NFL - the one thing that you know for certain is that there are people faster than you who are right behind you and want you to fumble the ball.
Quote examples
Barry Sanders
American Athlete
Anyone who has played the game professionally, you're always taught that the ball is the most important, most precious thing, so when the ball hits the ground, it's always a mad scramble. It's amazing how many times there is a fumble, and the person who recovers it initially doesn't walk away with the ball.
Quote examples
Rei Kawakubo
Japanese Designer
I'm always looking to make something that didn't exist before, fumbling about in the dark, not just while making a collection. The search for something new is a constant in my everyday life. But constantly searching for something new is like looking for a well in a desert.
Quote examples
Joe Burrow
American Football Player
You have to be stern in your voice, because if you are in there wavering and wobbling and fumbling over words, all the guys are going to be like, 'What is this guy doing in here, Coach? Get him out. Get someone else in.
Quote examples
Keith Thurman
American Boxer
I'm just not a team sports guy. I can't rely on somebody else for victory. I can't stand if they fumble a ball. I can't stand if they move offsides. I can't stand not being in the game.
Quote examples
Saquon Barkley
American Athlete
I'm pretty sure I probably will fumble again in my life. I don't want to, but you want to try to do everything possible not to.
Quote examples
John Heisman
American Coach
Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football.
Quote examples
Rob Morgan
American Actor
I love fumbling around on the guitar, I love being present with people.
Quote examples
Woody Hayes
American Coach
No back in the history of football was ever worth two fumbles a game.
Quote examples
Dante Hall
American Athlete
Every time I fumble or drop a ball I am embarrassed.
Quote examples
Travis Kelce
American Football Player
If you ever are fortunate enough to experience an open field in front of you as a tight end - and honestly, that's something not many guys at this position ever get to experience in the NFL - the one thing that you know for certain is that there are people faster than you who are right behind you and want you to fumble the ball.
Quote examples
Barry Sanders
American Athlete
Anyone who has played the game professionally, you're always taught that the ball is the most important, most precious thing, so when the ball hits the ground, it's always a mad scramble. It's amazing how many times there is a fumble, and the person who recovers it initially doesn't walk away with the ball.
Quote examples
Rei Kawakubo
Japanese Designer
I'm always looking to make something that didn't exist before, fumbling about in the dark, not just while making a collection. The search for something new is a constant in my everyday life. But constantly searching for something new is like looking for a well in a desert.
Quote examples
Joe Burrow
American Football Player
You have to be stern in your voice, because if you are in there wavering and wobbling and fumbling over words, all the guys are going to be like, 'What is this guy doing in here, Coach? Get him out. Get someone else in.
Quote examples
Keith Thurman
American Boxer
I'm just not a team sports guy. I can't rely on somebody else for victory. I can't stand if they fumble a ball. I can't stand if they move offsides. I can't stand not being in the game.
Quote examples
Saquon Barkley
American Athlete
I'm pretty sure I probably will fumble again in my life. I don't want to, but you want to try to do everything possible not to.
Quote examples
John Heisman
American Coach
Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football.
Quote examples
Rob Morgan
American Actor
I love fumbling around on the guitar, I love being present with people.
Quote examples
Woody Hayes
American Coach
No back in the history of football was ever worth two fumbles a game.
Quote examples
Dante Hall
American Athlete
Every time I fumble or drop a ball I am embarrassed.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension