bumble

1 of 2

verb (1)

bum·​ble ˈbəm-bəl How to pronounce bumble (audio)
bumbled; bumbling ˈbəm-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce bumble (audio)

bumble

2 of 2

verb (2)

bumbled; bumbling

intransitive verb

1
: blunder
specifically : to speak ineptly in a stuttering and faltering manner
2
: to proceed unsteadily : stumble
bumbler noun

Examples of bumble in a Sentence

Verb (1) a fly bumbling around the room while we were trying to sleep Verb (2) accused the White House staff of bumbling the announcement of the replacement for the cabinet post I sort of bumbled through the dance number, hoping that it would soon end overcome with stage fright, I could only bumble through the speech
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
There, Remy helps bumbling kitchen worker Alfredo Linguini cook a series of increasingly delectable dishes that soon attract the attention of the city’s most finicky restaurant critic, Anton Ego. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025 The Dodgers have bumbled their way through these past two games, in which the teams combined for 34 runs. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025 The first trailer for The Naked Gun reboot features Liam Neeson bumbling himself into all manner of compromising positions. Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 16 June 2025 The officers bumble around for answers, clueless and repeatedly dunked on by students until Bascombe’s son, Adam (Amari Bacchus), finally pulls him aside. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bumble

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English bomblen to boom, of imitative origin

Verb (2)

perhaps alteration of bungle

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1533, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bumble was in 1533

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bumble. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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