tiptoe

American  

[tip-toh] / ˈtɪpˌtoʊ /

noun

tiptoes plural

1. the tip or end of a toe.

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verb (used without object)

tiptoes, present (3rd person singular) tiptoed, past participle, past tiptoeing present participle

1. to move or go on tiptoe, as with caution or stealth.

   She tiptoed out of the room.

adjective

1. characterized by standing or walking on tiptoe.

2. straining upward.

3. eagerly expectant.

4. cautious; stealthy.

adverb

1. eagerly or cautiously; on tiptoe.

idioms

1. on tiptoe,

   1. on the tips of one's toes.

   2. expectant; eager.

      With Christmas coming, the children were on tiptoe.

   3. stealthily; cautiously.

      The concert had already begun, so he entered the back of the hall on tiptoe.

tiptoe British  

/ ˈtɪpˌtəʊ /

verb

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

2. to walk silently or stealthily

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noun

1. 1. on the tips of the toes or on the ball of the foot and the toes

   2. eagerly anticipating something

   3. stealthily or silently

adverb

1. on tiptoe

adjective

1. walking or standing on tiptoe

2. stealthy or silent

tiptoe More Idioms  

1. see on tiptoe.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tiptoes
  plural

Participles

• tiptoeing
  present
• tiptoed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• tiptoe
  simple
• tiptoes
  simple
• have tiptoed
  perfect
• has tiptoed
  perfect
• are tiptoeing
  progressive
• am tiptoeing
  progressive
• is tiptoeing
  progressive
• have been tiptoeing
  perfect progressive
• has been tiptoeing
  perfect progressive

Past

• tiptoed
  simple
• had tiptoed
  perfect
• was tiptoeing
  progressive
• were tiptoeing
  progressive
• had been tiptoeing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will tiptoe
  simple
• will have tiptoed
  perfect
• will be tiptoeing
  progressive
• will have been tiptoeing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of tiptoe

1350–1400; Middle English tiptoon (plural noun). See tip ¹, toe

Explanation

To tiptoe is to walk with your weight on your toes, moving quietly. If you're late to your yoga class and everyone's lying still with their eyes closed, you may want to tiptoe to your mat. You can also use tiptoe as a noun or an adjective: "She had to stand on her tiptoes to reach the cabinet where the cookies are kept." Figuratively, you tiptoe when you avoid a certain topic: "There's no need to tiptoe around the subject of money—I don't mind talking about it." The variation tippy toes dates from the early 1800s.

Example Sentences

The windows tell the story of Tiptoe, a spunky reindeer trying to believe she could fly.

From New York Times • Nov. 25, 2021

Tiptoe near the topic, and Silverstone makes it witheringly clear that proceeding further would be, as Cher Horowitz of “Clueless” would groan, a major party foul.

From Washington Post • Jun. 7, 2018

This month, Cherry Glazerr can be heard in the trailer for "Insidious: Chapter 3," for which the band recorded a rendition of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips."

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2014

At the beginning and end of the film he is seen peeking through the foliage and humming the jaunty '20s tune "Tiptoe Through the Tulips."

From Time • Oct. 5, 2011

Tiptoe on the toilet seat, she peered into the mirror, trying to blow bubbles with her Juicy Fruit gum.

From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord

Related Words

• creep
• pussyfoot
• sneak
• steal