fondlefon‧dle /ˈfɒndl $ ˈfɑːndl/ verb [transitive] 
Word Origin Examples
She fondled his neck.► see thesaurus at touch
Word OriginWORD ORIGINfondle
Verb TableOrigin:
1600-1700 fond ‘to love too much’ (16-17 centuries), from ➔ FONDVERB TABLE
fondle
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | fondle |
| he, she, it | fondles | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | fondled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have fondled |
| he, she, it | has fondled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had fondled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will fondle |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have fondled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am fondling |
| he, she, it | is fondling | |
| you, we, they | are fondling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was fondling |
| you, we, they | were fondling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been fondling |
| he, she, it | has been fondling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been fondling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be fondling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been fondling |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- He reached under her blouse and fondled her breasts.
- He sat fondling her feet as she lay back in the armchair.
- Jack fondled the silver beads and recited a prayer.
- The women allege that top male executives routinely fondled female employees.
- He fondled the long dagger he'd pushed through his wallet, drawing comfort from its metal coiled handle.
- Her pet, to be slipped titbits and fondled when no one was looking.
- I murmured some reply and continued to kiss and fondle her.
- I wanted to see who I was fondling.
- In tears, the hunter fondled Laelaps' ears.
THESAURUStouch somebody gently or lovingly► stroke
to gently touch and move your fingers over part of someone’s body in a way that shows love or sexual desire: to move your hand gently over something, especially in a loving way: · She stroked the child’s hair.· Our cat won’t let people stroke him.
► pat to touch an animal or child lightly several times, with your hand flat: · He knelt down to pat the dog.· She patted the little boy’s head.
► pet to touch and move your hand gently over someone, especially an animal or child: · The goats, pigs, sheep, and cows here allow you to pet them.
► caress to gently touch a part of someone’s body in a loving way: · a mother caressing her child· She caressed his cheek.
► fondle to touch a part of someone’s body in a loving or sexual way – use this especially about touching someone in a sexual way that is not wanted: · He tried to fondle her and she immediately pulled away from him.
Longman Language Activatorto touch someone or something in a gentle or loving way► stroke to move your hand or fingers over part of someone's body in a gentle, loving way: · Miss Poole calmed herself by stroking the cat's fur.· Her mother sat beside her and stroked her forehead until she fell asleep again.· The old priest stroked his white beard as he listened.
► pat to touch someone lightly several times with the flat part of your hand, in order to comfort them or to show them that you are pleased: · "Don't worry," he said, patting her hand gently.· "The baby's due in March," Caroline said grinning and patting her stomach.pat somebody on the shoulder/arm/head etc: · She bent down and patted the dog on the head.
► tickle to run your fingers quickly and gently over a sensitive part of someone's body, in order to make them laugh: · I hate being tickled.· When I was little my older brother would tickle me till tears ran down my face.
► caress to move your hand or fingers gently over part of someone's body in a gentle, loving, or sexual way: · Barbara held the tiny baby close and caressed his cheek.· He began caressing her with a surprising gentleness.
► fondle to move your hand or fingers over a part of someone's body in a loving or sexual way - use this especially about touching someone in a sexual way that is not wanted: · He sat fondling her feet as she lay back in the armchair.· The women allege that top male executives routinely fondled female employees.
She fondled his neck.► see thesaurus at touch