grovel
C1Informal, often pejorative
Definition
Meaning
To behave with exaggerated humility and submissiveness, typically by kneeling, crawling, or lying face down, often to beg for something or show extreme apology.
To act in an obsequious, abject, or excessively deferential manner in order to gain favour or avoid punishment; to debase oneself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly implies a loss of dignity and self-respect. The action is often seen as contemptible, whether performed by the subject or observed by others. Conveys both the physical posture and the accompanying servile attitude.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The main distinction is in the spelling of derived forms: British English doubles the 'l' (grovelling, grovelled), while American English uses a single 'l' (groveling, groveled).
Connotations
Identically negative in both variants, implying pathetic and undignified behaviour.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects. Perhaps slightly more common in UK political/journalistic discourse to describe sycophantic behaviour.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
grovel (to sb) (for sth)grovel (before sb)grovel (with sth)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “grovel in the dust”
- “grovel on one's knees”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used hyperbolically: 'I'm not going to grovel to the client just because they're threatening to leave.'
Academic
Very rare in formal writing. May appear in historical, political, or literary analysis describing servile behaviour.
Everyday
Most common in personal and social contexts to describe excessive apology or flattery: 'He spent the evening grovelling after he forgot their anniversary.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was forced to grovel before the tribunal for his actions.
- Stop grovelling and just tell me what you want.
American English
- He had to grovel to his boss to get his job back.
- I refuse to grovel for an invitation to their party.
adverb
British English
- He apologised grovellingly, but she was unmoved.
American English
- He asked grovelingly if he could have a second chance.
adjective
British English
- His grovelling letter of apology was leaked to the press.
- She was sick of his grovelling sycophancy.
American English
- His groveling attempt to win her back was pathetic.
- The politician's groveling speech did not impress the voters.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He had to grovel to his teacher after being rude.
- The dog grovelled at its owner's feet.
- The minister was accused of grovelling to foreign powers.
- I won't grovel for your approval; either accept me or don't.
- Having been caught in the lie, he spent the next week in a state of grovelling contrition.
- The autocrat demanded that his underlings grovel before him as a test of loyalty.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GROUnd-level VELvet cushion – to grovel is to put yourself so low you're on the ground, wishing you were as comfortable as velvet, but you're not.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORAL/SOCIAL STATUS IS PHYSICAL HEIGHT (to be low is to be without status or respect).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'ползать' (to crawl) which is purely physical. 'Grovel' always includes a psychological component of debasement. Closer to 'пресмыкаться', 'унижаться', 'раболепствовать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simply 'crawl' without the connotation of servility (e.g., 'The baby grovelled across the floor' is incorrect).
- Incorrect preposition: 'grovel at someone' (correct: grovel TO someone or BEFORE someone).
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the word 'grovel' used most appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it almost always carries a negative, pejorative connotation. It describes behaviour that is seen as undignified, excessively submissive, and often insincere.
Yes. While it originates from a physical posture (lying face down), it is now commonly used metaphorically to describe extremely humble or servile speech and behaviour, even if the person is standing up.
To 'apologise' is neutral; to 'grovel' is to apologise in an exaggerated, abject, and often demeaning way that suggests a loss of self-respect.
It comes from the early Middle English phrase 'on grufe', meaning 'face downwards', from Old Norse 'á grúfu'. The 'l' was added later by analogy with verbs like 'travel'.