dither
Americannoun
-
a trembling; vibration.
-
a state of flustered excitement or fear.
verb (used without object)
-
to act irresolutely; vacillate.
-
North England. to tremble with excitement or fear.
verb
-
to be uncertain or indecisive
-
to be in an agitated state
-
to tremble, as with cold
noun
-
a state of indecision
-
a state of agitation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dither
1640–50; variant of didder ( late Middle English diddere ); cf. dodder 1
Explanation
When you dither, you're flustered because you can't make up your mind about something. You might dither about what to do if your two best friends invite you to parties on the same night. The verb dither implies not only that you're having a hard time deciding about something, but that you're upset or agitated about it. You might say to your friend, "Don't just pace around and dither about what to wear! We're going to be late!" In the 17th century, dither meant "quake or tremble," and by the early 1800s it came to mean both "vacillate" and "be anxious."
Vocabulary lists containing dither
"The Landlady" by Roald Dahl
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“Interference Logic,” by Tristan Perich, pitted Dither against Mr. Perich’s customized low-tech circuitry, termed 1-bit electronics.
From New York Times • May 27, 2011
Dither opened with “Entropion,” part of “Cross-Sections,” a longer piece by the composer Lisa R. Coons heard on the quartet’s debut CD, “Dither.”
From New York Times • May 27, 2011
And Thursday’s concert includes two groundbreaking bands built around the electric guitar: the protean guitar quartet Dither and the dreamy mixed consort Redhooker.
From New York Times • May 20, 2011
The Hither and Thither of Danny Dither, a children's morality opera for grownups.
From Time Magazine Archive
The new king of the Lombards, Didier, and the new Pope, Adrian I., had entered upon a new war; and Dither was besieging Rome, which was energetically defended by the Pope and its inhabitants.
From A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 1 by Guizot, M. (François)
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.
