Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [gruhv-uh l, grov-]
- /ˈgrʌv əl, ˈgrɒv-/
- /ˈɡrɒv.əl/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [gruhv-uh l, grov-]
- /ˈgrʌv əl, ˈgrɒv-/
Definitions of grovel word
- verb without object grovel to humble oneself or act in an abject manner, as in great fear or utter servility. 1
- verb without object grovel to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate, especially in abject humility, fear, etc. 1
- verb without object grovel to take pleasure in mean or base things. 1
- noun grovel Lie or move abjectly on the ground with one's face downward. 1
- intransitive verb grovel be servile 1
- intransitive verb grovel prostrate oneself 1
Information block about the term
Origin of grovel
First appearance:
before 1585 One of the 35% oldest English words
1585-95; back formation from obsolete groveling (adv.), equivalent to obsolete grufe face down (< Old Norse ā grūfu face down) + -ling2, taken to be present participle
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Grovel
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
grovel popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 70% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
grovel usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for grovel
verb grovel
- fawn — a young deer, especially an unweaned one.
- beseech — If you beseech someone to do something, you ask them very eagerly and anxiously.
- kowtow — to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference.
- pamper — to treat or gratify with extreme or excessive indulgence, kindness, or care: to pamper a child; to pamper one's stomach.
- flatter — to make flat.
noun grovel
- welter — to roll, toss, or heave, as waves or the sea.
Antonyms for grovel
verb grovel
- ignore — to refrain from noticing or recognizing: to ignore insulting remarks.
- straighten — make straight
- answer — When you answer someone who has asked you something, you say something back to them.
- boast — If someone boasts about something that they have done or that they own, they talk about it very proudly, in a way that other people may find irritating or offensive.
- alienate — If you alienate someone, you make them become unfriendly or unsympathetic towards you.
Top questions with grovel
- what is grovel?
- what does grovel mean?
- what is the meaning of grovel?
- how to grovel?
- how do you spell grovel?
- what does it mean to grovel?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with g
- Words starting with gr
- Words starting with gro
- Words starting with grov
- Words starting with grove
- Words starting with grovel