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

Blue jeans, button-ups, and crewneck tees, because there’s beauty in taking it back to the basics. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 June 2026

Viking hats, national jerseys and a sea of red filled the gallery as chants followed Hovland from the first tee through the finish. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 June 2026

Verb

The group plans to propose an ordinance to establish the department in July, teeing it up to be considered by aldermen as budget negotiations start in the fall. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026

He was expected to tee it up at the Valero Texas Open this weekend, but abruptly withdrew from the tournament on Tuesday, March 31. — Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 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