Pronunciation: /ˈfʌmblɪŋ/

Definitions of fumbling

verb to handle or manipulate clumsily or ineffectively

Example Sentences

A1 She was fumbling with the keys trying to unlock the door.

A2 The young child was fumbling with the zipper on his jacket.

B1 He fumbled through his notes during the presentation, trying to find the right information.

B2 The nervous actor fumbled his lines during the live performance.

C1 Despite his experience, he still fumbled occasionally under pressure.

C2 The skilled musician never fumbled during her flawless piano recital.

adjective showing lack of skill or clumsiness

Example Sentences

A1 She was fumbling with the keys trying to open the door.

A2 The fumbling student struggled to tie his shoelaces.

B1 The fumbling chef accidentally dropped the plate of food.

B2 The fumbling quarterback made a critical mistake in the final minutes of the game.

C1 Despite his fumbling attempts, he managed to successfully navigate through the obstacle course.

C2 Her fumbling performance during the presentation was a result of nervousness and lack of preparation.

adverb in a clumsy or ineffectual manner

Example Sentences

A1 She was fumbling with the keys to open the door.

A2 He fumbled nervously with his tie before the job interview.

B1 The new employee was fumbling through the training manual.

B2 Despite fumbling with the controls, she managed to land the plane safely.

C1 The politician fumbled his way through the press conference, unable to answer questions coherently.

C2 The pianist fumbled briefly during the concert, but quickly recovered and continued flawlessly.

Examples of fumbling in a Sentence

formal The new employee was fumbling with the complex software during the training session.

informal I saw him fumbling with his keys at the front door, he must have been in a rush.

slang She was fumbling through her purse looking for her phone, it was a hot mess.

figurative The politician was fumbling with his words during the press conference, causing confusion among the audience.

Grammatical Forms of fumbling

past tense

fumbled

plural

fumblings

comparative

more fumbling

superlative

most fumbling

present tense

fumble

future tense

will fumble

perfect tense

have fumbled

continuous tense

is fumbling

singular

fumbling

positive degree

fumbling

infinitive

to fumble

gerund

fumbling

participle

fumbled

Origin and Evolution of fumbling

First Known Use: 1300 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The word 'fumbling' originated from the Middle English word 'fomelen' which meant to grope or feel awkwardly.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'fumbling' has evolved to also include the meaning of clumsily handling or mishandling something.