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gropeto feel about blindly or uncertainly in search of something

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to feel about blindly or uncertainly in search of something

Pronunciation (IPA): /ɡroʊp/

Example Sentences

  • The student groped for an excuse when the teacher asked about his homework.
  • She groped around her bag looking for her keys.
  • The comedian groped for a punchline that would save his joke.

grope

VERB

[/ɡroʊp/]

to feel about blindly or uncertainly in search of something

He had to grope along the dark hallway after the power went out.
💡 Concept

He had to grope along the dark hallway after the power went out.

Grope through darkness, then grab the rope of hope!
🎵 Rhyme

Grope through darkness, then grab the rope of hope!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ɡroʊp/
🇬🇧 UK/ɡrəʊp/

🌳Etymology

Rootgrope

Origin

The word derives from Old English 'grāpian', meaning 'to grasp or feel about with the hands'. It originates from Germanic roots and originally described the physical action of searching for something by touch.

Breakdown

Old English 'grāpian' (to grasp, feel about) → Middle English 'grope' → Modern English 'grope'. The word maintains its core sense of tactile searching through Germanic linguistic evolution.

🎵Rhyme

hoperopecopeslope
hope
rope
cope
slope

🔗Collocations

grope for something
grope in the dark
grope for words
grope around
grope blindly

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The student groped for an excuse when the teacher asked about his homework.

She groped around her bag looking for her keys.

😄 Fun example

The comedian groped for a punchline that would save his joke.

In the power outage, everyone groped their way to the emergency exit.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

fumblefeel aroundsearch blindlyreach outprobe

Antonyms

locate preciselytarget directlysee clearly

Related

touchreachsearchexploreinvestigate

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