verb / noun

fumble

FUHM-buhl/ˈfʌmbl/

To handle something clumsily and lose effective control.

I fumble with my keys and drop them on the porch.

An East Asian man fumbling a ring of keys that slips between his fingers at a doorway, natural awkward hands.

Etymology

Fumble has meant “handle clumsily” since its earliest recorded use. It may come from Old Norse falma, “to grope,” while similar Germanic words suggest a sound felt to express clumsiness.

In context

Ravi G Motwani | Author & Leadership Coach2:10

they either fumble over words or they lose their train of thought

How to Captivate Any Audience in Seconds

More examples

He fumbled the cup, spilling coffee across the counter.
His fumble gives the other team possession of the ball.
I fumbled the introduction and forgot our guest's name.

Forms

fumble · fumbles · fumbled · fumbling

fumbler noun — A person who handles things awkwardly.

Similar words

bobble: Usually describes briefly mishandling a ball while catching or fielding.
mishandle: Emphasizes handling something incorrectly, not necessarily losing physical control.
bungle: Emphasizes doing a task badly rather than handling objects clumsily.