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Definition of "fumble" []

  • To touch or handle nervously or idly: fumble with a necktie. (verb-intransitive)
  • To grope awkwardly to find or to accomplish something: fumble for a key. (verb-intransitive)
  • To proceed awkwardly and uncertainly; blunder: fumble through a speech. (verb-intransitive)
  • Football To drop a ball that is in play. (verb-intransitive)
  • Baseball To mishandle a ground ball. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "fumble" in a sentence
  • "Still, that same defense provided a touchdown and came up with the nail-in-the-coffin fumble at the end."
  • "Pirates QB Patrick Pinkney hopes for a fast start to erase the memories of his overtime fumble from a week ago."
  • "Later, I managed to catch a fumble from a cluster of all-too-eager fellow nerds."