# grope

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɡɹəʊp/ · frequency rank #42,680

## Definitions
1. To feel with or use the hands; to handle.
2. To search or attempt to find something in the dark, or, as a blind person, by feeling; to move about hesitatingly, as in darkness or obscurity; to feel one's way, as with the hands, when one can not see.
3. To touch (another person) closely and (especially) sexually.
4. To intentionally and inappropriately touch or rub against another person, in such a manner as to make the contact appear accidental, for the purpose of one's sexual gratification.
5. To examine; to test; to sound.

## Etymology
From Middle English gropien, from Old English grāpian, related to grīpan (whence English gripe); compare also grip.

## Easily confused with
- **grow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-grow)
- **group** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-group)
- **grown** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-grown)
- **gross** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-gross)
- **grows** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-grows)
- **grove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-grove)
- **growl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-growl)
- **grout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-grout)
- **groups** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-groups)
- **groves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-groves)
- **Grover** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-grover)
- **grouse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-grouse)
- **grower** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-grower)
- **grosse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-grosse)
- **grouped** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-grouped)
- **groupie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grope-vs-groupie)
- **GOP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gop-vs-grope)
- **GRE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gre-vs-grope)
- **gro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gro-vs-grope)
- **gone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gone-vs-grope)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ggrope`, `gorpe`, `groep`, `groppe`, `grpoe`, `grrope`, `rgope`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/grope