tee

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtē 

1

: the letter t

2

: something shaped like a capital T

3

informal : t-shirt

wearing a cotton tee

4

: a mark aimed at in various games (such as curling)

see also:

to a tee

tee

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

a

: a small mound or a peg on which a golf ball is placed before being struck at the beginning of play on a hole

b

: a device for holding a football in position for kicking

c

: an adjustable post on which a ball is placed for batting (as in T-ball)

2

: the area from which a golf ball is struck at the beginning of play on a hole

tee

3 of 3

verb

teed; teeing

transitive verb

: to place (a ball) on a tee

—often used with up

Examples of tee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Layering one’s button-ups over tees. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2026

This one is thin enough to tuck into a carry-on but substantial enough to throw over a tank or tee once the cabin gets chilly. —Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026

Verb

To be sure, teeing it up in a $20 million signature event at Bay Hill was not in his plans. —ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026

The honor represents a full-circle moment for Fowler, who will tee it up Thursday at the 48th annual Arnold Palmer Invitational. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1646, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tee

• ringer tee
• tee-ball
• tee-hee
• tee off
• tee off on (someone or something)
• tee shirt
• tee shot
• tee time
• tee up
• to a tee
• wind tee

Rhymes for tee

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

Kids Definition

tee

1 of 3 noun

ˈtē 

1

: the letter t

2

: something shaped like a capital T

3

informal : t-shirt

tee

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: a small peg on which a golf ball is set to be struck

b

: an adjustable post on which a ball is placed for batting (as in T-ball)

2

: the area from which a golf ball is struck in starting play on a hole

tee

3 of 3 verb

teed; teeing

: to place on a tee

teed up the ball