teasing

American  

[tee-zing] / ˈti zɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of persistently annoying someone, especially playfully and with silly jokes about them.

   Most holidays, we all manage to squeeze in at Grandma’s and enjoy a crazy day full of laughter, teasing, eating, and sharing.

2. the act of bullying, harassing, or tormenting someone.

   Many students with learning disabilities suffer the frustration of low achievement and the teasing and poor self-image that come with it.

3. the act of purposely exciting, tantalizing, or sexually arousing someone without providing subsequent gratification.

   She smiled over her shoulder at him, brown eyes shiny with teasing.

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adjective

1. harassing, tantalizing, or playfully annoying someone in any of these ways.

   In answer to my eager question, they shrugged a teasing “maybe.”

   Lisa turns 20 next month and her mother is already sending her teasing texts featuring grandma emojis.

Other Word Forms

• teasingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of teasing

First recorded in 1585–95; teas(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; teas(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

Carr explained that, after filming concluded on The Celebrity Traitors, he returned to work on Secret Genius, where teasing from a crew member caused him to accidentally reveal he had won.

From BBC

Over the four years she has lived in Accra, Ghanaians have claimed her in the way only Ghana knows how, with warmth, with teasing, with family, and with names.

From BBC

The clip also features scenes from a previous trailer teasing images of the war and Odysseus’ journey home.

From Los Angeles Times

And then he talked about Greenland, teasing his remarks as if he were standing on a junior high school stage introducing an eighth-grade production of “We’re No Angels.”

From Salon

Caruso, who had been teasing a possible run for months, made his decision Friday, saying it came after “many heartfelt conversations” with his family.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• irritating
• joking
• mocking