grovel
5 synonyms for grovel, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To lie or crawl face-down on the ground, often out of fear or submission.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use grovel
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
grovel for forgiveness
grovel before someone
Etymology
From an Old Norse phrase meaning "on one's belly," which became the verb grufla ("to grovel"), eventually reshaped in English as grovel.
Full origin of grovel →Frequently asked questions
What does “grovel” mean?
The word “grovel” means to lie or crawl face-down on the ground, often out of fear or submission. In plain terms, to act overly submissive or beg for forgiveness/favor, sometimes literally lying down.
How do you pronounce “grovel”?
“Grovel” is pronounced GRO-vuhl (/ˈɡrɒvəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “grovel” in a sentence?
Here is “grovel” used in a sentence: “The dog grovelled at his owner's feet after being scolded.”
What part of speech is “grovel”?
“Grovel” is a verb.
Where does the word “grovel” come from?
The word “grovel” comes from Old Norse. From an Old Norse phrase meaning "on one's belly," which became the verb grufla ("to grovel"), eventually reshaped in English as grovel.
How many meanings does “grovel” have?
“Grovel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to lie or crawl face-down on the ground, often out of fear or submission.
