dither

[ dith-er ]
See synonyms for dither on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a trembling; vibration.

  2. a state of flustered excitement or fear.

verb (used without object)
  1. to act irresolutely; vacillate.

  2. North England. to tremble with excitement or fear.

Origin of dither

1
1640–50; variant of didder (late Middle English diddere); cf. dodder1

Other words from dither

  • dith·er·er, noun
  • dith·er·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dither in a sentence

  • Walter and Carl looked at one another inquiringly; the others dithered helplessly.

    Hunter Patrol | Henry Beam Piper and John J. McGuire
  • He could hardly nod his ugly head for the trembling of his body, and I fairly dithered as I knelt on him.

    The Yeoman Adventurer | George W. Gough
  • He stood before the giant, wall-sized glassed-in refrigerator and dithered over the energy-drinks.

    Makers | Cory Doctorow
  • She dithered for a moment, then stepped back toward the kitchen and the stairwell.

  • He kept the centre of the road, and accelerated his engine till the car dithered and vibrated from end to end.

    King of Ranleigh | F. S. (Frederick Sadlier) Brereton

British Dictionary definitions for dither

dither

/ (ˈdɪðə) /


verb(intr)
  1. mainly British to be uncertain or indecisive

  2. mainly US to be in an agitated state

  1. to tremble, as with cold

noun
  1. mainly British a state of indecision

  2. a state of agitation

Origin of dither

1
C17: variant of C14 (northern English dialect) didder, of uncertain origin

Derived forms of dither

  • ditherer, noun
  • dithery, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012