teeter

1 of 2

verb

tee·​ter ˈtē-tər 

teetered; teetering; teeters

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move unsteadily : wobble

b

: waver, vacillate

teetered on the brink of bankruptcy

2

: seesaw

teeter

2 of 2

noun

: seesaw sense 2b

Synonyms

Verb

• falter
• rock
• totter
• waver
• wobble
• wabble

Examples of teeter in a Sentence

Verb

The pile of books teetered and fell to the floor.

She teetered down the street in her high heels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Locally, PacWest Bancorp teetered but survived and was later acquired by Banc of California, now based in L.A. The spike in interest rates put the squeeze on City National, which also was buffeted by actors’ and writers’ strikes last summer. —Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024

The carbon-neutral property sits teetering on the edge of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve but within easy reach of the restaurants and activity of Tulum's Hotel Zone. —Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2024

Noun

For Crystal and Charles, whose friendship teeters on the edge of something more, Nelson describes them as both lost in their own individual ways. —Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 May 2024

Amid the delay, thousands of Haitians have either lost their lives or been injured, and Haiti teeters on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe as millions of people are unable to find enough food to eat. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English titeren to totter, reel; akin to Old High German zittarōn to shiver

First Known Use

Verb

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1860, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing teeter

• teeter-totter

Kids Definition

teeter

verb

tee·​ter

ˈtēt-ər

1

a

: to move unsteadily

teetered on the edge and fell over the side

b

: waver sense 1

2

: seesaw entry 2 sense 2

teeter noun