grope
grope — noun
- gropesingular
- gropesplural
1. an act of touching a person's body in a sexual way that they have not agreed to
an act of touching a person's body in a sexual way that they have not agreed to and that they find upsetting
The woman reported an unwanted grope while riding the evening train.
countable noun: report a grope
Security footage showed the grope on the escalator at the mall.
A passenger filed a complaint after the grope at the concert last month.
The newspaper published a story about a grope in a crowded elevator.
- molestation
stronger term, often implies children or repeated abuse
- sexual assault
broader legal term covering any unwanted sexual contact, not just touching with hands
文法句型
grope + on/in/at [location]
用法筆記
Almost always refers to unwanted sexual touching. Commonly appears in news reports and legal complaints rather than everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
grope — verb
- gropepresent simple I / you / we / they
- gropeshe / she / it
- gropedpast simple
- groping-ing form
1. to use your hands to search a surface or space when it is too dark or difficult
to use your hands to search a surface or space when it is too dark or difficult to see what you are doing or where you are going
Walid groped along the dark hallway, searching for the bathroom door.
grope + along for movement in darkness
The old woman groped in her purse for a tissue before she sneezed.
Nora groped across the table for the lamp switch during the blackout.
Sahil groped his way down the stairs when the power went out.
The child groped under the bed for the toy that had rolled away.
- fumble
suggests clumsy, hurried movements and often dropping things, while grope implies a slower, more deliberate search
- feel
broader and less specific; 'feel' can be done deliberately in any light condition, whereas grope is for when you cannot see
- search
more general and can be intellectual; grope is always physical and uncertain
文法句型
grope + for/around/along [noun]
grope + possessive + way + preposition
用法筆記
In the intransitive sense, typically followed by a preposition such as 'for', 'around', 'along', or 'under' to indicate what is being searched for or where. The transitive pattern 'grope one's way' describes moving carefully forward in difficult conditions.
常見錯誤
2. to put your hands on another person's body in a sexual way without their permiss
to put your hands on another person's body in a sexual way without their permission
A drunk stranger groped Sumin on the crowded dance floor while her friends stood nearby.
transitive: grope someone + location
The company fired the manager for groping a new employee at the office party.
Witnesses said the man groped several women on the subway car.
Nala screamed when she felt someone grope her from behind in the dark.
文法句型
grope + person
用法筆記
Only transitive — always takes a direct object naming the person who is touched. Frequently appears in news reports about sexual misconduct, harassment allegations, or legal cases.