Definition of seesaw
1 : an alternating up-and-down or backward-and-forward motion or movement; also : a contest or struggle in which now one side now the other has the lead
2a : a pastime in which two children or groups of children ride on opposite ends of a plank balanced in the middle so that one end goes up as the other goes downb : the plank or apparatus so used
seesaw
adjectivePeople Are Reading
Examples of seesaw in a Sentence
Their relationship was an emotional seesaw.
Origin and Etymology of seesaw
probably from reduplication of 3saw
First Known Use: 1704
seesaw
Definition of seesaw
intransitive verb
1a : to move backward and forward or up and downb : to play at seesaw
2 : alternate seesaw between two activities
transitive verb
: to cause to move in seesaw fashion
Examples of seesaw in a Sentence
The lead seesawed between the two runners right up to the finish line.
as their boat seesawed in the rough water, the rescue team tried to get the passengers off the sinking ship
1709
First Known Use of seesaw
1709
SEESAW Defined for English Language Learners
seesaw
playDefinition of seesaw for English Language Learners
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: a long, flat board that is balanced in the middle so that when one end goes up the other end goes down
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: a situation in which something keeps changing from one state to another and back again
seesaw
Definition of seesaw for English Language Learners
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: to keep changing from one state or condition to another and then back again
SEESAW Defined for Kids
Definition of seesaw for Students
1 : a plank for children to play on that is balanced in the middle on a raised bar with one end going up while the other goes down
2 : a situation in which something keeps changing from one state to another and back again
Definition of seesaw for Students
seesawed
;seesawing
: to keep changing from one state to another and back again
Learn More about seesaw
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See words that rhyme with seesaw Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for seesaw Spanish Central: Translation of seesaw Nglish: Translation of seesaw for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of seesaw for Arabic speakers
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