grovel
Group 30Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To lie or crawl abjectly on the ground; to act in an obsequious manner in order to obtain forgiveness GRE
Example in Context
The executive refused to grovel before the board, presenting her case with composure even as calls for her resignation mounted.
Synonyms
begcrawlplead
Etymology
Crawling on the ground, literally and figuratively begging for forgiveness.
- gruf (Old English) — to crawl
- vel (Latin) — to roll
Memory Aid
🙇♂️Sounds like “groveling”
Imagine a giant GROWLING dog forcing you to GROVEL on your knees for its forgiveness!
Visual Association
🐕A person lying flat on the ground, begging a dog for forgiveness after stepping on its tail.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “grovel” mean on the GRE?
grovel (verb) means “To lie or crawl abjectly on the ground; to act in an obsequious manner in order to obtain forgiveness”. The executive refused to grovel before the board, presenting her case with composure even as calls for her resignation mounted.
How to remember “grovel” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “grovel” sounds like “groveling”. Imagine a giant GROWLING dog forcing you to GROVEL on your knees for its forgiveness!
What are synonyms for “grovel”?
Common synonyms: beg, crawl, plead.