seesaw

1 of 2

noun

see·​saw ˈsē-ˌsȯ 

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

2

a

: 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 down

b

: the plank or apparatus so used

seesaw adjective

seesaw

2 of 2

verb

seesawed; seesawing; seesaws

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move backward and forward or up and down

b

: to play at seesaw

2

: alternate

seesaw between two activities

transitive verb

: to cause to move in seesaw fashion

Synonyms

Verb

• careen
• lurch
• pitch
• rock
• roll
• sway
• toss
• wobble
• wabble

Examples of seesaw in a Sentence

Noun

Their relationship was an emotional seesaw.

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Medicare Advantage is at the center of the seesaw as health care stakeholders—on the payer and provider sides alike—parse meaning from these early earnings reports. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

Four batters into the ninth, however, the Dodgers had tilted the seesaw again. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025

Verb

The business is seesawing between traditional music by guys like Kander and Ebb and contemporary music by guys like Pete Townshend. —Jeffrey Seller, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025

But Florida wasn’t done, either, and the lead seesawed back and forth by one point into the game’s final seconds. —Tom Tapp, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from reduplication of saw entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1709, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for seesaw

• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• chainsaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada
• esau

Kids Definition

seesaw

1 of 2 noun

see·​saw ˈsē-ˌsȯ 

1

a

: an up-and-down or backward-and-forward motion or movement

b

: a contest or struggle in which now one side now the other has the lead

2

a

: a game 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 down

b

: the plank used in the game of seesaw

seesaw adjective

seesaw

2 of 2 verb

seesawed; seesawing

1

: to move like a seesaw

2

: to play on a seesaw