I. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
along
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The smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke spilled into the back-stage corridors as we groped along in search of my dressing room.
around
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As a newcomer to a job and organisation, you may find yourself groping around to discover how status operates.
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She set Janir down in the garden where he groped around and tested the dirt with his mouth.
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His hand groped around the wall just inside the door, feeling for the light switch.
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We groped around in the darkness, found a fat tallow candle and I lit it with my tinder.
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I groped around with my foot for the table-leg and pressed down hard until the spasm gradually subsided.
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She began to struggle free of Marco's embrace, groping around for anchorage.
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Frankie groped around on the shelves until his fingers encountered a deep plate.
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Lucker gropes around on the floor.
■ NOUN
hand
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His hand groped around the wall just inside the door, feeling for the light switch.
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Holding my throbbing temples between my hands , I groped my way to the Oval.
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The mummy clawed blindly with his free hand , groping for the chip man's voice.
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She turned wildly, then staggered, her hands groping for the brass footrail of the bed.
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With her other hand she groped and found the switch.
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Tolby flung himself sideways, his hand groping for the door handle.
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The other man moved over to join them, gripping Connelly's right arm so that his hand was groping at empty air.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
push/grope/inch etc your way somewhere
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Fumbling and vague groping is encouraged.
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He was merely groping for the road to freedom.
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I groped a few more feet into the bush.
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Mr. Kinnock I think the answer that the Prime Minister was groping for was yes.
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She set Janir down in the garden where he groped around and tested the dirt with his mouth.
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Sometimes, but only very rarely do I touch a piece of bliss when I grope in the dark.
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Then she groped at her shoulder to where the oxygen tank was moulded around her triceps.
II. noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Berkoff portrays a lonely middle-aged woman who has had more than her fair share of gropes in corners and one-night stands.
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But this was a dark place of gropes and whispers, of black silhouettes.
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Unable to see out the operator inside was responsible for a few unintentional gropes during rehearsals!