tiptoe

[ tip-toh ]

/ ˈtɪpˌtoʊ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tiptoe ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the tip or end of a toe.

verb (used without object), tip·toed, tip·toe·ing.

to move or go on tiptoe, as with caution or stealth: She tiptoed out of the room.

adjective

characterized by standing or walking on tiptoe.

straining upward.

eagerly expectant.

cautious; stealthy.

adverb

eagerly or cautiously; on tiptoe.

Words nearby tiptoe

tippytoe, tipstaff, tipster, tipsy, tipsy cake, tiptoe, tiptop, tiptronic, tipu, tipu sahib, tipuna

Idioms for tiptoe

on tiptoe,

on the tips of one's toes.
expectant; eager: With Christmas coming, the children were on tiptoe.
stealthily; cautiously: The concert had already begun, so he entered the back of the hall on tiptoe.

Origin of tiptoe

1350–1400; Middle English tiptoon (plural noun). See tip¹, toe

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for tiptoe

A couple of ladies, standing on tiptoe, are scribbling over it with eyeliner and lipstick.
The Stacks: The Neville Brothers Stake Their Claim as Bards of the Bayou|John Ed Bradley|April 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If Romney tries to run or tiptoe away, he will trip over his own flip-flops.
How Obama Will Cash In on Paul Ryan: Medicare, Taxes, Education & More|Robert Shrum|August 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Romney, on account of his wealthy personal life, has to tiptoe around policies that redistribute wealth upward.
What's Wrong With Perry's Tax Plan|David Sessions|October 25, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The establishment has to tiptoe around her and handle her delicately.
How to Derail Palin for 2012|Tunku Varadarajan|November 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST

You must tell George that he must walk on tiptoe and not speak—otherwise he will die someday.
A Mark Twain Christmas Story|The Daily Beast|December 24, 2009|DAILY BEAST
With the box still in his hands he stole on tiptoe into the room and looked carefully round him.
The Secret Chamber at Chad|Evelyn Everett-Green
Merriman and Tiptoe were the two leading dogs, and they were not fifty yards behind him.
The Rifle and The Hound in Ceylon|Samuel White Baker
Those in front were swept against the guards as those behind surged forward, stretching to tiptoe.
In the Name of Liberty|Owen Johnson
Half an hour later von Schalckenberg crept out on tiptoe, his kindly face beaming and his eyes sparkling with exultation.
The Log of the Flying Fish|Harry Collingwood
Before he had time to look round him the door was opened again from without, and Isabel stole into the room on tiptoe.
My Lady's Money|Wilkie Collins

British Dictionary definitions for tiptoe

tiptoe

/ (ˈtɪpˌtəʊ) /

verb -toes, -toeing or -toed (intr)

to walk with the heels off the ground and the weight supported by the ball of the foot and the toes

to walk silently or stealthily

noun

on tiptoe

on the tips of the toes or on the ball of the foot and the toes
eagerly anticipating something
stealthily or silently

adverb

on tiptoe

adjective

walking or standing on tiptoe

stealthy or silent

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

Idioms and Phrases with tiptoe

tiptoe

see on tiptoe.

tiptoe

noun

verb (used without object), tip·toed, tip·toe·ing.

adjective

adverb

Words related to tiptoe

Words nearby tiptoe

Idioms for tiptoe

Origin of tiptoe

Examples from the Web for tiptoe

British Dictionary definitions for tiptoe

verb -toes, -toeing or -toed (intr)

noun

adverb

adjective

Idioms and Phrases with tiptoe