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
Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
While the Chiefs are coming off their first win of the season, the Ravens are following a difficult loss to the Detroit Lions, in which Derrick Henry fumbled the ball in the fourth quarter for the second time this season.
—Hunter Simpson, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
One actually worked in Notre Dame’s favor, as Adon Shuler forced a fumble that Smith recovered.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
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Verb
While both teams were in position to flip some results, the Ravens have to feel a little snakebitten with how their games have played out, including a couple of fourth-quarter Derrick Henry fumbles.
—Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
While the Chiefs are coming off their first win of the season, the Ravens are following a difficult loss to the Detroit Lions, in which Derrick Henry fumbled the ball in the fourth quarter for the second time this season.
—Hunter Simpson, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
The team picked off Brock Purdy twice and caused Purdy to lose a fumble.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
One actually worked in Notre Dame’s favor, as Adon Shuler forced a fumble that Smith recovered.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 29 Sep. 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 1 Oct. 2025.
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