Meaning & use

groping

verb·Everyday

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

fumblingfeeling

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.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.