tiptoe

[ tip-toh ]

noun

1. the tip or end of a toe.

verb (used without object)

, tip·toed, tip·toe·ing.

1. to move or go on tiptoe, as with caution or stealth:

   She tiptoed out of the room.

adjective

1. characterized by standing or walking on tiptoe.
2. straining upward.
3. eagerly expectant.
4. cautious; stealthy.

adverb

1. eagerly or cautiously; on tiptoe.

tiptoe

/ ˈtɪpˌtəʊ /

verb

1. to walk with the heels off the ground and the weight supported by the ball of the foot and the toes
2. to walk silently or stealthily

noun

1. on tiptoe
   1. on the tips of the toes or on the ball of the foot and the toes
   2. eagerly anticipating something
   3. stealthily or silently

adverb

1. on tiptoe

adjective

1. walking or standing on tiptoe
2. stealthy or silent

Word History and Origins

Origin of tiptoe¹

1350–1400; Middle English tiptoon (plural noun). See tip ¹, toe

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on tiptoe,
   1. on the tips of one's toes.
   2. expectant; eager:

      With Christmas coming, the children were on tiptoe.

   3. stealthily; cautiously:

      The concert had already begun, so he entered the back of the hall on tiptoe.

More idioms and phrases containing tiptoe

see on tiptoe .

Example Sentences

They watched Walker Buehler tiptoe in and out of danger over four scoreless innings, the right-hander managing to get enough swing-and-miss to compensate for his spotty command.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes, I would tiptoe into the living room, careful not to make a noise, and lie on the ground watching whatever was showing.

From Los Angeles Times

One cut has been delivered, and they will slowly tiptoe their way to some more cuts over the course of the next year.

From BBC

An annual gathering in Budapest of the Conservative Political Action Committee, a Trump-aligned American organization, has had to tiptoe around the issue of China and focus instead on building what its most recent edition last month declared a “coalition of pro-peace, antiglobalist forces.”

From New York Times

I tiptoe through the woods so the leaves don’t crackle under my feet.

From Literature

Related Words

• creep
• pussyfoot
• sneak
• steal