Grovel

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Grovel

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

verb

Pronunciation

GROV-ul  /ˈɡrɒv(ə)l/

Definition

To lie or crawl with the face downwards in a show of submission or abject fear; to behave in an excessively humble or submissive manner in order to obtain forgiveness or favour.

Plain meaning

To grovel means to abase yourself completely — to crawl on the floor in submission, or to behave with humiliating servility to get someone's forgiveness or approval.

Register

Slightly elevated to informal. Grovel implies a degree of abasement that makes the word inherently dramatic. A grovelling apology is more than a sincere apology — it implies excessive, servile self-abasement. The word carries a slight air of contempt for the person grovelling.