scrabble

verb scrab·ble \ ˈskra-bəl \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of scrabble

scrabbled; scrabbling play \ˈskra-b(ə-)liŋ\

intransitive verb

1 : scrawl, scribble

2 : to scratch, claw, or grope about clumsily or frantically

3 a : scramble, clamber

b : to struggle by or as if by scraping or scratching

scrabble for survival

transitive verb

1 : scramble

2 : scribble

—

scrabbler

play \ˈskra-b(ə-)lər\ noun

See scrabble defined for English-language learners

See scrabble defined for kids

Examples of scrabble in a Sentence

She scrabbled around in her handbag for a pen.
He scrabbled at the slippery rock.

Recent Examples of scrabble from the Web

The new Tomb Raider movie, which comes out on Friday, is based on the excellent 2013 video game reboot, which reimagines Lara as a rookie archaeologist who spends most of the narrative just scrabbling to survive.

— scott meslow, GQ, "Does Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider Hold Up?," 14 Mar. 2018
The shimmering black-and-white cinematography by Mart Taniel tracks the connections among a village's wolves and witches, landed gentry and scrabbling farmers.

— sheri linden, latimes.com, "Estonian fantasy 'November' finds light in the darkness," 1 Mar. 2018
In some places, punches were thrown, hair was pulled, faces were scratched and elderly customers were trampled underfoot as shoppers scrabbled to grab jars of the spread.

— kim willsher, latimes.com, "Some in France figure a great deal on a hazelnut and chocolate spread is worth fighting for," 26 Jan. 2018
The plucky cable cars, scrabbling up its impossible hillsides.

— mark z. barabak, latimes.com, "San Francisco is getting a new mayor and creating a political star. Who will it be?," 21 Dec. 2017
On Tuesday, evacuees still shut out of the islands scrabbled at every piece of news about unheard-from friends, family, boats and houses.

— alan blinder, marc santora and vivian yee, New York Times, "For Florida Keys Residents, Home Was the Ultimate Getaway. Then Irma Hit.," 12 Sep. 2017
As results persistently failed to live up to expectation, everybody scrabbled around looking for excuses and people to blame.

— jonathan wilson, SI.com, "Early Neymar, Cavani Feud Threatens PSG's Project, Shows Frailties in Superteams," 20 Sep. 2017
The world moves into modernity but Lewis and Benjamin largely remain behind, sometimes scrabbling forward to catch it, but mostly just clinging to its tail, being dragged reluctantly forward.

— hanya yanagihara, New York Times, "Bruce Chatwin: One of the Last Great Explorers," 7 Sep. 2017
Presumably this means that, unlike the previous rear-wheel-drive Roadster, the next car will find all four wheels scrabbling for purchase while one’s corneas are pinned to the back of one’s skull.

— davey g. johnson, Car and Driver, "Tesla Offers Evangelists a Discount on Next Roadster, So We Know That Now," 14 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of scrabble

Dutch schrabbelen to scratch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1537

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

scrabble Synonyms

Synonyms

feel, fish, fumble, grope;

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;

scrabble

noun

Definition of scrabble

1 : scramble

2 : scribble

3 : a repeated scratching or clawing

Examples of scrabble in a Sentence

it'll be a long scrabble to pull ourselves out of poverty

Recent Examples of scrabble from the Web

Here is the scrabble of historical experience before history has laid down its narrative paths.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "Walter Kempowski’s Epic Novel of Germany in Collapse," 21 Mar. 2016
Then there was the scrabble of a key at a lock, and the other door, the one facing him, that led to the free world, opened.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "A prisoner is given a deal he can’t refuse in an excerpt from S.J. Morden’s sci-fi novel One Way," 25 Mar. 2018
Mémère loved family gatherings and was ready anytime for a game of scrabble, cards, the challenge of a good puzzle or a computer game.

— courant.com, "Rita R. Dulude," 5 Mar. 2018
Spoelstra masks this small flaw by getting his group to outwork teams in scrabbles for loose balls.

— karl bullock, SI.com, "The Case for Coach of the Year: Erik Spoelstra," 1 Feb. 2018
Each photo is a miniature stage play: a boy wraps himself in a rope, like a noose or a bandolier; girls in finery scrabble for candy; refugee children solemnly display their toys.

— david campany, The New Yorker, "Mark Neville’s Immersive Photo Experiment," 22 May 2017
Scrabble for adults Mondays 6 p.m., John Marshall Library, 4133 Rectortown Rd.

— Washington Post, "Community events in Fauquier County," 30 May 2017
The recurrent motif is Scrabble: the Commander enlists Offred in a secret game.

— emily nussbaum, The New Yorker, "A Cunning Adaptation of “The Handmaid’s Tale”," 22 May 2017

First Known Use of scrabble

1794

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

scrabble Synonyms

Synonyms

battle, fight, fray, struggle, throes;

drudgery, grind, sweat, toil, travail;

combat, conflict, contest, strife, tussle, war, warfare;

attempt, endeavor, essay, try;

SCRABBLE Defined for English Language Learners

scrabble

verb

Definition of scrabble for English Language Learners

: to move the hands or feet in an awkward and hurried way in order to find or do something

Learn More about scrabble

See words that rhyme with scrabble Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scrabble Spanish Central: Translation of scrabble Nglish: Translation of scrabble for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of scrabble for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scrabble

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scrabble

Definition of scrabble

scrabbler

Examples of scrabble in a Sentence

Recent Examples of scrabble from the Web

Origin and Etymology of scrabble

scrabble Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

scrabble

Definition of scrabble

Examples of scrabble in a Sentence

Recent Examples of scrabble from the Web

First Known Use of scrabble

scrabble Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

SCRABBLE Defined for English Language Learners

scrabble

Definition of scrabble for English Language Learners

Learn More about scrabble

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