teeter

[ tee-ter ]

verb (used without object)

1. to move unsteadily.
2. to ride a seesaw; teetertotter.

verb (used with object)

1. to tip (something) up and down; move unsteadily.

noun

1. a seesaw motion; wobble.
2. a seesaw; teetertotter.

teeter

/ ˈtiːtə /

verb

1. to move or cause to move unsteadily; wobble

noun

1. another word for seesaw

Word History and Origins

Origin of teeter¹

1835–45; variant of dial. titter, Middle English titeren < Old Norse titra tremble; cognate with German zittern to tremble, quiver

Word History and Origins

Origin of teeter¹

C19: from Middle English titeren, related to Old Norse titra to tremble, Old High German zittarōn to shiver

Example Sentences

Council budgets are stretched, some teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, in part because of care costs.

From BBC

Through it all, James was terrific, keeping the Lakers engaged and in the game even when it teetered.

From Los Angeles Times

They were stacked in teetering towers, jumbled in messy piles.

From Los Angeles Times

A house has been left teetering close to the edge of a crumbling cliff following significant rockfall along the Jurassic Coast.

From BBC

As James Harden sat on the bench in the fourth quarter, watching his team teeter, he would lean forward and look at the coaching staff.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dangle
• falter
• flutter
• lurch
• reel
• seesaw
• stagger
• stumble
• totter
• tremble
• waver