groveling

From the verb grovel: (⇒ conjugate)

groveling is: ⓘ

v pres p (US)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

grov•el /ˈgrɑvəl, ˈgrʌv-/   v. [no object] , -eled, -el•ing or (esp. Brit.) -elled, -el•ling. 

1. to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body flat, as in fear.
2. to humble oneself:
   always groveling before the boss, begging for favors.

grov•el•er, [esp. Brit.,] grov•el•ler, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

grov•el  (gruv′əl, grov′-), v.i., -eled, -el•ing or (esp. Brit.) -elled, -el•ling. 

1. to humble oneself or act in an abject manner, as in great fear or utter servility.
2. to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate, esp. in abject humility, fear, etc.
3. to take pleasure in mean or base things.

• Old Norse ā grūfu face down) + -ling², taken to be present participle
• back formation from obsolete groveling (adverb, adverbial), equivalent. to obsolete grufe face down (1585–95

grov′el•er*  [esp. Brit.,] grov′el•ler, n. 
grov′el•ing•ly;
 [esp. Brit.,] grov′el•ling•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. truckle, toady, fawn, kowtow, pander.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

grovel / ˈɡrɒv^əl/ verb ( -els, -elling, -elled) ( -els, -eling, -eled)(intransitive)

1. to humble or abase oneself, as in making apologies or showing respect
2. to lie or crawl face downwards, as in fear or humility
3. (often followed by in) to indulge or take pleasure (in sensuality or vice)

Etymology: 16th Century: back formation from obsolete groveling (adv), from Middle English on grufe on the face, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse ā grūfu, from grūfa prone position; see -ling²

ˈgroveller, ˈgroveler noun