grope

/group/

Thân thiện

A person gropes for the light switch on a dark wall.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To feel about uncertainly or blindly with the hands: To try to find something by moving your hands in an unsteady or clumsy way, especially when you cannot see.
   • To search blindly or uncertainly in the mind: To try hard to find an idea, a memory, or a solution in a hesitant or struggling manner.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (Physical Action):
  • She had to grope for the light switch in the pitch-black hallway.
  • He groped around in his bag, trying to find his keys without looking.
• Verb (Mental Action):
  • After the shocking news, his mind groped for a reasonable explanation.
  • The student groped for the right answer during the difficult exam.

Advanced Usage

• "to grope one's way": To move forward slowly and carefully by feeling with your hands, typically because it is dark.
  • The power outage forced us to grope our way down the stairs.

Variants and Related Words

• Gropingly (adverb): In a groping manner; hesitantly and by feeling.
  • He moved gropingly through the unfamiliar room.

Synonyms

• Fumble: To use the hands clumsily while doing or handling something.
• Feel around: To search by touching.
• Flounder: To struggle mentally or act clumsily.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

(This word is not commonly used in specific idioms.)

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of groping; and instance of groping

Verb

1. fondle for sexual pleasure
   • He made some sexual advances at the woman in his office and groped her repeatedly
2. search blindly or uncertainly
   • His mind groped to make the connection
3. feel about uncertainly or blindly
   • She groped for her glasses in the darkness of the bedroom

Từ đồng nghĩa

• fumble