/ ˈfʌmbl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
fumble (at / with / in sth) (for sth) | fumble (around) to use your hands in an awkward way when you are doing sth or looking for sth :
[ v ]
She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief.
He fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.
She was fumbling around in the dark looking for the light switch.
[ vn ]
He fumbled the key into the ignition.
[also v to inf ]
2.
to have difficulty speaking clearly or finding the right words to say :
[ v ]
During the interview, she fumbled helplessly for words.
[ vn ]
to fumble an announcement
3.
[ vn ] ( especially in sport ) to drop a ball or to fail to stop or kick it
■ noun
1.
[ sing. ] (also fum·bling [ C , usually pl. ]) an awkward action using the hands
2.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) the action of dropping the ball while it is in play in American football
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Low German fommeln or Dutch fommelen .