tee

1 of 3

noun (1)

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)

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
Phrases
to a tee
: exactly, precisely
the description fit her to a tee

Examples of tee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Not until the 17th hole, as the wind picked up, did Scheffler have to scramble, missing the fairway with his tee shot, putting from beyond the edge of the green to leave himself a 14 1/2-foot putt for par. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025 In a billowing silk shirt and wide black velour trousers, Pitt's look stood in contrast to his friend, Cooper, who looked classic in cotton pants and a navy tee. Grace Jordan-Weinstein, People.com, 17 June 2025
Verb
Scott will tee it up next at the Travelers Championship from June 19–22 at TPC River Highlands. Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025 At least being cut from this week’s tournament gives McIlroy a couple more days to figure out his driver before teeing it up at the U.S. Open on Thursday. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for tee

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)

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1673, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tee was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tee. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

tee

1 of 3 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on tee

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!