GROPING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does groping mean? 

• GROPING (adjective)
  The adjective GROPING has 1 sense:

1. acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence

  Familiarity information: GROPING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GROPING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence

Context example:

a groping effort to understand

Similar:

incertain; uncertain; unsure (lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance)

 Context examples 

“Off the Farallones, heading about sou-west,” he answered, slowly and methodically, as though groping for his best English, and rigidly observing the order of my queries.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Alone I had thought of it, and alone I had done it; and here was the chart which would save us a month's blind groping among unknown dangers.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Next moment we were both groping downstairs, leaving the candle by the empty chest; and the next we had opened the door and were in full retreat.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Just then it seemed my chamber-door was touched; as if fingers had swept the panels in groping a way along the dark gallery outside.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He fought with his fear and pulled himself together, groping in the water and recovering the weapon.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

He could not express what he felt, and to himself he likened himself to a sailor, in a strange ship, on a dark night, groping about in the unfamiliar running rigging.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

All night they led their horses, stumbling and groping through wild defiles and rugged valleys, following the guidance of a frightened peasant who was strapped by the wrist to Black Simon's stirrup-leather.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Groping my way more carefully, for the rest of the journey, my heart beat high when I found the outer door, which had Mr. TRADDLES painted on it, open.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

As the tears streamed fast down poor Jo's cheeks, she stretched out her hand in a helpless sort of way, as if groping in the dark, and Laurie took it in his, whispering as well as he could with a lump in his throat, I'm here.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)