verb / noun
grope
GROHP/ɡrəʊp/
To search uncertainly by touch or thought.
In the dark, she gropes along the wall for a switch.
Etymology
Old English grapian already described feeling about in blindness or darkness, as well as taking hold. The selected sense emphasizes searching by touch when sight cannot guide the hands.
In context
I grow blind; hands! stretch out before me that I may yet grope my way. Is’t night?
More examples
- He gropes for the right words to explain his mistake.
- I groped around in my bag for my keys.
- After a brief grope under the couch, I find the remote.
Forms
grope · gropes · groped · groping