English vocabulary · B2
Bumble
/ˈbʌm.bəl/ · v.
Bumble means to do something in a bad way because you are not sure what to do. You try, but you make small mistakes.
Continue in the learning app for video lessons and review.
Example sentences
- I bumbled through my first day at work.
- He bumbled around the kitchen and dropped a cup.
Word origin and roots
from Middle English
- bomblen — buzz (from Middle English)
Synonyms and nuances
- FUMBLE — to handle something badly (Use Your Hands Badly)
- STUMBLE — to almost fall while walking (Lose Your Step)
- BLUNDER — to make a bad mistake (Make A Careless Mistake)
Lesson notes
Bumble means to do something in a bad way because you are not sure what to do. You try, but you make small mistakes.
Related: fumble, stumble, blunder. Use bumble when someone acts without skill or a clear plan.
I bumbled through my first day at work. He bumbled around the kitchen and dropped a cup.
From Middle English. Bomblen means buzz. The word moved from an unsteady sound to unsteady action, and became bumble.