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
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 8 July 2025
Ferguson couldn't find the end zone once, and even fumbled the ball four times, after preventing fumbles entirely during his first two seasons in the league.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
Graham famously forced a fumble on Tom Brady late in the game, which helped the Eagles increase their lead to the point where a field goal wouldn't cut it for New England on their final drive.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
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Verb
But then Superman lost flight and Warners fumbled the lucrative Reeve franchise greatly.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 8 July 2025
Ferguson couldn't find the end zone once, and even fumbled the ball four times, after preventing fumbles entirely during his first two seasons in the league.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Noun
Especially after his only notable play last season was an embarrassing ball drop/fumble inside the one-yard line against the Texans, which resulted in a touchback.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
Graham famously forced a fumble on Tom Brady late in the game, which helped the Eagles increase their lead to the point where a field goal wouldn't cut it for New England on their final drive.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 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 22 Jul. 2025.
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