Definition
To handle something clumsily or struggle to find or do something in an awkward way.
Example
She fumbled with her keys in the dark hallway.
Show translation
She struggled awkwardly with her keys in the dark hallway.
Etymology
From Low German *fommeln* or Dutch *fommelen*, meaning to grope or handle clumsily. Recorded in English from the mid-16th century, likely entering through seafaring and trade contacts with the Low Countries.
Cultural note
In American football, a "fumble" is a specific technical term for when a ball-carrier drops the ball during play — a critical mistake. The word carries this sporting connotation strongly in American English, so saying someone "fumbled" a situation implies not just awkwardness but a costly blunder.