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

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

This seesaw approach destabilizes not just U.S.-China relations but the entire global trading system. —Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025

Verb

In the meantime, Trump’s seesawing tariff orders aimed at Canada and Mexico return this week in debate. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025

Case numbers seesawed in the following years before reaching an all-time low in 2021, when Pakistan recorded only one infection Although cases have fluctuated in the past, experts say last year's increase was particularly alarming. —Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 16 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