grope

verb \ ˈgrōp \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: grope in a Sentence

Definition of grope

groped; groping

intransitive verb

1 : to feel about blindly or uncertainly in search

grope for the light switch

2 : to look for something blindly or uncertainly

grope for the right words

3 : to feel one's way

groped along the dark passage

transitive verb

1 : feel up

claims that her boss tried to grope her

2 : to find (one's way) by groping

—

groper

noun

See grope defined for English-language learners

See grope defined for kids

Examples of grope in a Sentence

I groped for the light switch.
She groped around in her purse, looking for her comb.
We groped along the dark passage.
She claims that her boss tried to grope her.

Recent Examples of grope from the Web

Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens (Los Angeles County), took an unpaid leave earlier this year after she was accused of groping a staffer.

— melody gutierrez, SFChronicle.com, "California lawmaker reprimanded for ‘locker-room talk’," 12 July 2018
Ohio State recently ordered an independent investigation into Richard Strauss, the former sports physician accused of groping athletes.

— eugene scott, Washington Post, "Ohio State and Jim Jordan: Why sexual abuse claims against men aren’t taken seriously," 11 July 2018
Republican leaders in Indiana joined Democrats on Thursday in calling for the resignation of Curtis Hill, the state’s attorney general, who has been accused of groping four women at a bar in March.

— daniel victor, BostonGlobe.com, "Indiana attorney general, accused of groping, faces calls to quit," 6 July 2018
The comedian has also reportedly been arrested and sued over multiple other allegations of groping.

— brittney mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "Video of Andy Dick Seeming to Grope Ivanka Trump Has Resurfaced," 6 July 2018
Another contestant, Lincoln, was convicted last month of groping a woman on a 2016 cruise.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'Bachelorette' drops Orlando man," 19 June 2018
He was also accused of groping the heir to Sweden’s throne, Crown Princess Victoria.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "Nobel Scandal: Photographer Faces Two Charges of Rape," 12 June 2018
The president, who boasted of groping women in a 2005 video recording released in October 2016, has denied the allegations.

— henry goldman, Bloomberg.com, "NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio Says Trump Should Be Investigated Like Weinstein," 25 May 2018
Prosecutors have declined to bring charges against producer James Toback, who was accused of misconduct by several women, and agent Adam Venit, who was accused by actor Terry Crews of groping his crotch in February 2016.

— richard winton, latimes.com, "D.A.'s Hollywood sex crimes unit weighs charges against Harvey Weinstein, Steven Seagal and others," 16 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grope.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of grope

Middle English, from Old English grāpian; akin to Old English grīpan to seize

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

grope Synonyms

Synonyms

feel, fish, fumble, scrabble;

Related Words

grabble;

cast about, hunt, look, reach, seek (out);

capture, clutch, corral, get, grab, nab, nail, seize, snatch;

comb, dig (through), dredge, rake, ransack, rifle, rummage, scour;

grope

noun

Definition of grope

plural gropes

: an act of groping

made a grope for the light switch

And what are these clumsy, embarrassing, fumbling encounters if they are not passes, beery gropes in the dark?
—Nick Hornby

First Known Use of grope

circa 1513

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

GROPE Defined for Kids

grope

verb \ ˈgrōp \

Definition of grope for Students

groped; groping

1 : to move along by feeling with the hands

He groped along the dark hallway.

2 : to seek by or as if by feeling around

She groped for the light switch.

He was groping for an answer.

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Definition of grope

groper

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Origin and Etymology of grope

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grope

Definition of grope

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