seesaw

American  

[see-saw] / ˈsiˌsɔ /

noun

1. a recreation in which two children alternately ride up and down while seated at opposite ends of a plank balanced at the middle.

2. a plank or apparatus for this recreation.

3. an up-and-down or a back-and-forth movement or procedure.

4. Whist. a crossruff.

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adjective

1. moving up and down, back and forth, or alternately ahead and behind.

   It was a seesaw game with the lead changing hands many times.

verb (used without object)

1. to move in a seesaw manner.

   The boat seesawed in the heavy sea.

2. to ride or play on a seesaw.

3. to keep changing one's decision, opinion, or attitude; vacillate.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to move in a seesaw manner.

seesaw British  

/ ˈsiːˌsɔː /

noun

1. a plank balanced in the middle so that two people seated on the ends can ride up and down by pushing on the ground with their feet

2. the pastime of riding up and down on a seesaw

3. 1. an up-and-down or back-and-forth movement

   2. ( as modifier )

      a seesaw movement

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verb

1. (intr) to move up and down or back and forth in such a manner; oscillate

Regionalisms

Although seesaw (def. 2) is the most widely used term in the U.S., teetertotter is also in wide use in the Northern, North Midland, and Western regions. Tilting board and its variants tilt board and tiltering board are New Eng. terms, especially Eastern New Eng., while tinter and its variant teenter are associated with Western New Eng.

Etymology

Origin of seesaw

1630–40 as part of a jingle accompanying a children's game; gradational compound based on saw ¹

Explanation

A seesaw is a piece of playground equipment made of a board balanced on a center support. To play on a seesaw, you sit on one end with a friend on the other end, moving up and down. You might also call a seesaw a teeter-totter — they are common in parks and on school playgrounds. When you sit on a seesaw, with your friend on the opposite side, each of you takes turns pushing up off the ground. When you go up into the air, your friend touches the ground, and when your friend goes up, you go down. Seesaw comes from the French ci-ça, or "this-that."

Example Sentences

Appeared in the January 10, 2026, print edition as 'Oil Stocks Seesaw, Defense Stocks Soar'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Seesaw said in response to the incident it had:

From BBC • Sep. 15, 2022

Her brother, Ethan, in fifth grade, had a little trouble learning to use the Seesaw app at first, but has figured it out and is able to ask his teacher questions when he needs help.

From Washington Times • May 2, 2020

Manzanita Kids Animal Seesaw Wood Balancing Game: This classic wood toy is handmade in Seattle from locally sourced, sustainable hardwood that’s hand-polished with organic jojoba oil and beeswax so it’s safe for all ages.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 19, 2019

"Seesaw, Margery Daw!" sang Sue, as Bunny came back to play with her.

From Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue at Christmas Tree Cove by Hope, Laura Lee

Related Words

• fluctuate
• teeter
• vacillate
• waver