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dither
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1dith·er

intransitive verb \ˈdi-thər\
dith·ereddith·er·ing \-th(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of DITHER

1
: shiver, tremble
2
: to act nervously or indecisively : vacillate
— dith·er·er \-thər-ər\ noun

Examples of DITHER

  1. We don't have time to dither.
  2. She did not dither about what to do next.

Origin of DITHER

Middle English didderen
First Known Use: 15th century

Related to DITHER

Synonyms
balance, hesitate, falter, halt, hang back, scruple, shilly-shally, stagger, teeter, vacillate, waver, wobble (also wabble)
Antonyms
dive (in), plunge (in)

Rhymes with DITHER

blither, cither, hither, slither, swither, thither, whither, wither, zither

2dither

noun

Definition of DITHER

: a highly nervous, excited, or agitated state : excitement, confusion
— dith·ery \ˈdi-thə-rē\ adjective
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Examples of DITHER

  1. <Grandma usually gets in a dither if I don't make my weekly call.>
  2. <we were all in a dither while we waited for the test results>

First Known Use of DITHER

1819

Related to DITHER

Synonyms
fret, fluster, fuss, huff, lather, pother, stew, sweat, swelter, swivet, tizzy, twitter

Rhymes with DITHER

blither, hither, swither, thither, whither, wither

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