teeter
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to move unsteadily.
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to ride a seesaw; teetertotter.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a seesaw motion; wobble.
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a seesaw; teetertotter.
verb
noun
Etymology
Origin of teeter
1835–45; variant of dial. titter, Middle English titeren < Old Norse titra tremble; cognate with German zittern to tremble, quiver
Explanation
To teeter is to waver or sway a bit from lack of balance. When people first learn to ride a bicycle, they inevitably teeter for a while before becoming more skilled and confident. A beginning gymnast will teeter on the balance beam, and anyone who's not accustomed to high-heeled shoes will teeter as they walk in them. Figuratively, you might even teeter, or hesitate, between two hard choices. A "teeter-totter," or seesaw, is a playground toy for two people, a long board fixed on a center support, designed so that when one kid is down, the other is up.
Vocabulary lists containing teeter
The Egypt Game
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Purple Hibiscus
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Charlotte's Web
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Kroger also owns Harris Teeter, King Soopers and other U.S. grocery chains.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2025
Together, they own a portfolio of brands including Safeway, Mariano’s, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter and Vons.
From Salon • Dec. 12, 2024
Kroger, operator of brands such as Harris Teeter and Fred Meyer, is one of the biggest grocers in the US by sales.
From BBC • Feb. 26, 2024
A combined Kroger-Albertsons would have nearly 5,000 stores across the country, merging the banners of Kroger, Ralphs and Harris Teeter with Albertsons, Safeway, Acme and Jewel-Osco, among others.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 20, 2024
“Effie Wilcox had a cousin, name of Maude Teeter Lingenbloom. That’s M.T. L. for you.”
From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
