tease
verb (used with object)
to irritate or provoke with persistent petty distractions, trifling jests, or other annoyances, often in a playful way.
has teased
-
present perfectof tease (3rd person singular).present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Lilly has teased the launch of the pill for months.
From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026
“Hims & Hers has teased the bear, which we believe could lead to increased scrutiny of the company’s entire GLP-1 compounding business, not just the tablet.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026
Rock band Green Day, who are from California, will play an anniversary ceremony before Sunday's game and the NFL has teased that there will be some surprises at half-time.
From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2026
Apple has been branded an AI laggard, and indeed the company has struggled to roll out the AI features it has teased.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 18, 2025
My gaze goes to Madoc, but he is on the steps, speaking in low tones to one of his commanders, a troll who has eaten at our table, has teased Oak and made him laugh.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
