Meaning & use
groping
Last updated
Feeling around with the hands in an uncertain or clumsy way, especially in order to find something without being able to see it.
See it in a sentence
He was groping for the light switch in the pitch-black room.
She spent a moment groping in her bag for her keys.
A note on using this word
Often used figuratively too, as in 'groping for the right words,' meaning to search uncertainly for an answer or explanation.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
Touching someone's body without their consent, especially in a sexual manner.
The security footage showed the man groping a stranger on the crowded train.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “groping”, then compare your use with the examples above.