Grovel
/ˈɡrɒvəl/
verbB2
Definition
Grovel means to behave in a way that shows you want forgiveness or favor by making yourself seem less important or weaker. It can include actions like crawling on the ground or begging very humbly. People often grovel when they feel guilty or want to please someone powerful.
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See It in Action
To behave very humbly or weakly to get forgiveness or favor
- •After breaking the vase, he grovelled to his mother to avoid punishment.
- •The employee grovelled before the boss to keep his job.
- •She grovelled on the floor, begging for another chance.
To lie or move on the ground with face down, showing submission or fear
- •The dog grovelled at its owner’s feet after being scolded.
- •The knight grovelled before the queen to show respect.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'grovel' like 'beg' (A1 word), but much more extreme and showing more weakness or shame
- ✓Picture someone crawling on the ground with their hands and knees, looking very small and sorry
- ✓It’s the feeling when you really want to fix a mistake and are ready to do anything to be forgiven
- ✓Sounds like 'GROVE-uhl' → imagine someone in a grove (small forest) bowing down low to the ground to show respect or ask for help
- ✓In stories, villains or heroes sometimes grovel to a king or queen to ask for mercy or a second chance
- ✓NOT like 'ask' (normal request), grovel shows strong weakness and need for forgiveness
- ✓NOT like 'apologize' (just saying sorry), grovel includes actions to show deep shame or begging
- ✓NOT like 'kneel' (simple action), grovel includes crawling or lowering yourself completely to show submission
Try Other Words
- •Beg: to ask for something with strong need (Use when the request is emotional but not physically lowering yourself)
- •Crawl: to move on hands and knees (Use when focusing on physical movement without the emotional meaning)
- •Plead: to ask strongly or seriously (Use when asking with strong words but not necessarily physical submission)
- •Kowtow: to show too much respect or obedience (Use in formal contexts about submission, similar but more cultural)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix) root word "grovel"
- •Etymology: From Old English "grofian" meaning to lie face down, or from Middle English related to "grove" (a small wood or thicket)
- •Historical development: Originally meant to lie or creep on the ground, later gained the meaning of showing humble or weak behavior to gain favor
- •Modern usage: Used to describe both physical crawling and emotional begging or showing submission, often with a negative feeling of being too weak or ashamed
Reflect & Connect
•Can groveling ever be a good or necessary action, or is it always negative? Why?
•How does groveling compare to simply apologizing or asking for forgiveness in your culture?
Fill in the blanks
1.He had to grovel ___ his boss after making a big mistake to keep his job.
2.When someone grovels, they often show ___ or deep regret for their actions.
3.Grovel is different from just asking because it includes being very ___ or humble.
4.In some stories, characters grovel before a ruler to ___ mercy or forgiveness.
5.People sometimes grovel ___ the floor to show they are very sorry.
6.Grovel usually happens when a person feels ___ or afraid of losing something important.
7.Unlike a simple apology, groveling often involves ___ actions like crawling or bowing.