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Glite Dictionary
to grope for

to grope for

6 7.1
To feel with your hands to find something in the dark
  • phrasal verb
  • /ɡroʊp fɔr/
translation icon : buscar a tientas
  • In the dark hallway, she groped for the light switch to find her way.
  • groping for words
  • groped for a handkerchief
  • groping for an answer

Examples

  • After the power went out, he had to grope for his glasses on the bedside table.

  • A bedlamp is switched on, a hand groping for the phone.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Near death, her eyes are closed, but she still gropes for the hands of her family.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Hands passed over Rory, groping for a leg, an arm, his chest.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "Really?" I clambered out of bed myself and groped for the chamber pot under the bed.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The man coughed, out loud this time, and groped for another candle.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • MICHAEL'S LOFT - EVENING. JACOB charges into the dark space, groping for a light.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • There was a soft scratching at the door, as of someone groping for the latch.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • With one hand holding the dark coverlet around her, she groped for the doorknob.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The man crawls after her, groping for her legs with his gloved hands.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

to search
vsto grope for
∞ 1.0

To try to find something or someone by looking carefully

limits action to using hands in poor visibility rather than sight
to feel
vsto grope for
∞ 2.3

To use your hands to find something when you cannot see it

focuses on using touch specifically in darkness rather than sight
to fumble
vsto grope for
39 4.8

To move your hands clumsily while trying to find something

involves deliberate hand probing in low light rather than accident
to grope
vsto grope for
21 6.3

To feel for something with your hands when you cannot see

is used with an object rather than as a simple base action
to feel around
vsto grope for
7 3.5

Touch things with your hands to find something, often when it is dark

implies reaching more broadly rather than only precise touching
to scrabble
vsto grope for
5 6.5

To feel around with your hands to find something

is a steadier tactile search without haste or clumsiness
to cast about
vsto grope for
3 7.2

To look around or think hard to find something you need

is a calmer tactile reaching focused on feeling rather than anxiety
to gropple
vsto grope for
9.9

To feel around with your hands to find something in the dark

is a simpler tactile action without the added struggle
to ferret around
vsto grope for
  • Informal
7.4

To search carefully through things in a small place like a bag or box

focuses on touch in darkness rather than broad, thorough searching

How Thorough

to root about
  • UK
7.0
to grope for
6 7.1
to fumble
39 4.8

Surface Forms

grope for infinitive
groped for past
groped for past participle
groping for present participle
gropes for third person singular

Morphology

grope + for

The verb 'grope' already means 'feel about for something by hand' and the preposition 'for' simply marks the target of the action, so 'grope for' is directly compositional as 'search by feeling for (something)'. This verb+preposition pattern is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reliably infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Grope for gives a simple picture: you move your hands slowly in the dark, feeling around until you find what you want. That's why it means 'to search by feeling with the hands' or, more generally, 'to search blindly'.