grope

verb \ ˈgrōp \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 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

On May 21, Adim was reportedly convicted for a 2016 incident in which he was accused of groping and assaulting a woman on a harbor cruise ship in Boston, THR reports.

— kathryn lindsay, refinery29.com, "Warner Bros. Denies Knowledge Of Bachelorette Contestant's Assault Conviction," 13 June 2018
Strampel was arrested earlier this year on charges that include groping and misusing his office.

— todd spangler, Detroit Free Press, "Simon: If I had known about Nassar sooner, I would have fired him," 5 June 2018
There, female court employees complained that Kent groped and harassed them.

— jeffrey toobin, The New Yorker, "Will the Fervor for Impeachment Start a Democratic Civil War?," 19 May 2018
The husband of an Academy member – and beneficiary of Academy funding – has been accused of groping and assaulting at least 18 women over more than 20 years.

— peter ford, The Christian Science Monitor, "After Nobel prize falls to #MeToo, what's next for literature's highest honor?," 7 May 2018
The panel decided Wednesday that the groping accusations against Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma's foreign affairs committee, were unfounded.

— Fox News, "Russian lawmaker cleared of sexual harassment accusations," 21 Mar. 2018
The man who accused Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia of drunkenly groping him at a legislative softball game is appealing the results of an Assembly investigation that did not substantiate his claims.

— alexei koseff, sacbee, "Cristina Garcia accuser appeals investigation that cleared her of groping allegation," 30 May 2018
Meanwhile, the Taylor Swift Army is rallying around the singer, who recently won a lawsuit against a radio DJ who groped her at a meet-and-greet.

— sarah spellings, The Cut, "Taylor Swift Backup Dancer Went on a Sexist Posting Spree," 30 May 2018
Wang was charged in October after a 19-year-old Northwestern University student told police that Wang groped her during a massage at the Art of Health spa.

— brian l. cox, chicagotribune.com, "Man who groped customer during massage at Evanston spa found guilty of sex abuse," 24 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.

Learn More about grope

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grope

Definition of grope

groper

Examples of grope in a Sentence

Recent Examples of grope from the Web

Origin and Etymology of grope

grope Synonyms

Synonyms

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grope

Definition of grope

First Known Use of grope

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GROPE Defined for Kids

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