Scrabbled: meaning, definitions and examples

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scrabbled

 

[ ˈskræbld ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

past form

Scrabbled is the past tense of the verb 'scrabble', which means to move or scrape around quickly and clumsily, usually with the hands. It often describes a frantic or desperate search for something. It can also refer to the act of playing or creating words in a game like Scrabble. This term may convey a sense of urgency or disarray in the movement.

Synonyms

fumbled, rummaged, scratched, searched.

Examples of usage

  • She scrabbled for her keys under the couch.
  • The child scrabbled in the dirt for hidden treasures.
  • They scrabbled to find answers during the quiz.
  • He scrabbled up the hill, eager to get a better view.

Translations

Translations of the word "scrabbled" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desordenado

🇮🇳 बेतरतीब

🇩🇪 verworfen

🇮🇩 tercampur

🇺🇦 перемішаний

🇵🇱 pomieszany

🇯🇵 混乱した

🇫🇷 débarassé

🇪🇸 revuelto

🇹🇷 karışık

🇰🇷 뒤엉킨

🇸🇦 مُشَوَّش

🇨🇿 zmatek

🇸🇰 roztrhnutý

🇨🇳 混乱的

🇸🇮 zmešan

🇮🇸 óreiða

🇰🇿 аралас

🇬🇪 ბურღვა

🇦🇿 qarışıq

🇲🇽 revuelto

Etymology

The term 'scrabble' has origins rooted in the early 19th century, derived from the Dutch word 'schrabben', which translates to 'scratch, scrape, or scrawl'. It evolved in English to embody a sense of hurriedness and disorder in motions. The verb form gained popularity in the context of both searching and playing games, reflecting both action and strategy. With the introduction of the board game 'Scrabble' in the 1930s, the term further embedded itself into popular culture, where players would 'scrabble' tiles to create words, emphasizing the idea of making something out of a disordered array of letters. Over time, 'scrabbled' transitioned from its original physical connotations to encompass various meanings, depicting both literal and metaphorical interpretations of chaotic movement.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,214 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.