fumble

fum‧ble /ˈfʌmbəl/ BrE AmE verb
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language]
1. (also fumble around) [intransitive and transitive] to try to hold, move, or find something with your hands in an awkward way
fumble at/in/with
She dressed, her cold fingers fumbling with the buttons.
fumble for
I fumbled around in my bag for a cigarette.
She reached round to fumble the light on.
2. [intransitive and transitive] if you fumble with your words when you are speaking, you have difficulty saying something
fumble for
Asked for an explanation, Mike had fumbled for words.
The second candidate fumbled her lines.
3. [intransitive and transitive] to drop a ball after catching it:
Quarterback Rattay was hit and fumbled the ball.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fumble

fum·ble [fumble fumbles fumbled fumbling] verb, noun [ˈfʌmbl] [ˈfʌmbl]

verb
1. intransitive, transitive to use your hands in an awkward way when you are doing sth or looking for sth
• ~ (at/with/in sth) (for sth) She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief.
• He fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.
• ~ around She was fumbling around in the dark looking for the light switch.
• ~ sth (+ adv./prep.) He fumbled the key into the ignition.

• ~ to do sth I fumbled to zip up my jacket.

2. intransitive, transitive to have difficulty speaking clearly or finding the right words to say
• ~ (for sth) During the interview, she fumbled helplessly for words.

• ~ sth to fumble an announcement

3. transitive ~ sth (especially in sport) to drop a ball or to fail to stop or kick it
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Low German fommeln or Dutch fommelen.
Thesaurus:
fumble verb I, T (usually used with an adverb or preposition)
• She was fumbling around in the dark, looking for the light switch.
grope • • feel • • rummage • • fish • |especially BrE scrabble •
fumble/grope/feel/rummage/fish/scrabble around/about

fumble/grope/feel/rummage/fish around/scrabble for sth

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fumble / ˈfʌm.bl̩ / verb [ T ] (SPORT)

in sport, to fail to catch a ball:

If Wilson hadn't fumbled that catch , we might have won the match.

fumble / ˈfʌm.bl̩ / verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] (DO STH AWKWARDLY)

to do something awkwardly, especially when using your hands:

I fumbled with the lock.

He fumbled in his pockets for some change.

She fumbled around/about in her handbag, looking for her key.

They fumbled around/about (= moved awkwardly) in the dark, trying to find their way out of the cinema.

fumble / ˈfʌm.bl̩ / verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] (THINK OF A WORD)

to have difficulty saying or thinking of suitable words:

I was fumbling for the right word.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

fumble

[fʌ̱mb(ə)l]
fumbles, fumbling, fumbled
1) VERB If you fumble for something or fumble with something, you try and reach for it or hold it in a clumsy way.
  [V for/with/in n] She crept from the bed and fumbled for her dressing gown...
  [V for/with/in n] He fumbled with the buttons at the neck...
  [V n] He fumbled his one-handed attempt to light his cigarette.
2) VERB When you are trying to say something, if you fumble for the right words, you speak in a clumsy and unclear way.
  [V for n] I fumbled for something to say...
  [V n] He fumbled his lines, not knowing what he was going to say. [Also V]

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fumble

fum·ble /ˈfʌmbəl/ verb fum·bles; fum·bled; fum·bling
1 [no obj] : to search for something by reaching or touching with your fingers in an awkward or clumsy way
• She fumbled in her pocket for her keys.
• He fumbled (around) for the light switch.
- often used figuratively
• She fumbled for an answer but couldn't think of one.
2 : to handle something in an awkward or clumsy way