What does grope mean?
Grope means to search for something by touch, particularly when the surroundings are dark or unfamiliar. Its literal use suggests uncertainty: a person may grope for a light switch, a wall, or a door handle, moving cautiously and relying more on touch than sight. The verb also has a well-established figurative sense of searching without a clear direction, as in "grope for an explanation" or "grope for a solution." In modern English, grope also describes sexual touching that occurs without consent, a usage carrying a strongly negative connotation and often associated with harassment or assault. The noun is relatively uncommon but can refer to an act or instance of feeling one's way. Historically, grope developed from an Old English word for searching by touch, and it belongs to a Germanic family of verbs connected with the idea of grasping. The word is therefore useful for expressing attempts to navigate uncertainty, whether literally through darkness or figuratively through missing information.
To search for or locate something by touch; to search uncertainly for information, meaning, or direction; or to touch someone sexually without consent.
"The climber groped for a secure hold as the wind pushed him against the rock."
The figurative sense is widely used. The sexual sense normally describes unwanted or nonconsensual conduct.
An act or instance of searching or feeling one's way, especially by touch or in uncertainty.
"His cautious movement across the room was a series of tentative gropes in the darkness."
The noun is relatively uncommon in contemporary English.
The plural is grammatically regular but rarely needed because the noun is uncommon.
"The blind speaker made several slow gropes toward the edge of the stage."
Grope can mean searching with your hands—or describe a sexual violation, a sharp contrast that makes the word memorable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does grope come from?
The English verb descends from Old English grōpian, meaning "to search by touch." It belongs to a Germanic family that also produced English grip and cognates such as German greifen, Dutch grijpen, and Swedish gripa. The figurative sense of searching uncertainly for information or direction became well established, while the sexual sense developed a strongly negative modern connotation.
Related word forms
How grope is actually used
The figurative sense, as in "grope for information," is common in formal and informal English. The sexual sense is strongly negative and usually describes unwelcome or nonconsensual conduct. The noun is uncommon in modern usage and chiefly denotes an act or instance of feeling one's way.
Easily confused with grope
A grip is a firm grasp or hold, whereas grope usually means searching by touch or trying to find one's way uncertainly.
A grape is the fruit of a grapevine; a grope is an act or manner of searching by touch.