teeter

verb tee·ter \ ˈtē-tər \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: teeter in a Sentence

Definition of teeter

teetered; teetering; teeters

intransitive verb

1 a : to move unsteadily : wobble

b : waver, vacillate

teetered on the brink of bankruptcy

2 : seesaw

See teeter defined for English-language learners

See teeter defined for kids

Examples of teeter in a Sentence

The pile of books teetered and fell to the floor.
She teetered down the street in her high heels.

Recent Examples of teeter from the Web

The Aztecs, who had won the first game 25-22, but lost 25-19 and then were blown out 25-9, were teetering on the edge of defeat.

— steve brand, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Belief in coach launches title run for Montgomery volleyball team," 7 June 2018
But Venezuela is in the midst of a brutal economic crisis marked by severe shortages of food and medicine that have the oil-rich nation teetering toward social unrest.

— kejal vyas, WSJ, "Venezuela Frees Jailed Dissidents Under International Pressure," 1 June 2018
Though this generation's bookend ages have always teetered, the nonprofit Pew Research Center set the years of birth between 1981 and 1996.

— rick montgomery, kansascity, "What companies want: millennials. What they're offering: massages, student loan help | The Kansas City Star," 27 Apr. 2018
Experts now fear that the nation is teetering on the brink of a tuberculosis epidemic that could spill over its borders as Venezuelans flee in record numbers to escape the economic and political crisis, potentially exporting the illness with them.

— kirk semple, New York Times, "‘We’re Losing the Fight’: Tuberculosis Batters a Venezuela in Crisis," 20 Mar. 2018
The operator tugs the stubby toggles on a heavy rubber remote and the hammer drill pivots and spins, teetering precariously before rolling clumsily down the bank.

— genesee keevil, Popular Mechanics, "The Rush: What the World's Greatest Gold Prospector Knows," 17 May 2018
Another way to keep MoviePass from teetering into insolvency is to get members to love the service less.

— kyle stock, Bloomberg.com, "How Two Million People Loved MoviePass Nearly to Death," 16 May 2018
Other cars ride right to the edge of auto purgatory, teetering rimless and torn to shreds by squirrels.

— jason nark, Philly.com, "Destined for the junkyard, beloved lemons hit the South Jersey track," 11 May 2018
Showing no signs of an achy back that has required constant treatment and a few injections, Hill steadied a teetering offense that watched an 11-point halftime lead quickly turn into a one-point edge.

— zachariah durr, cleveland.com, ""More Tristan!" cry Cavs fans as they "Sound Off" on Game 7's win over Pacers (VIDEO)," 29 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'teeter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of teeter

Middle English titeren to totter, reel; akin to Old High German zittarōn to shiver

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1844

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

teeter Synonyms

teeter

noun

Definition of teeter

: seesaw 2b

Recent Examples of teeter from the Web

Zone Out's script, just like Sunspring's, teeters on the edge of inanity and emotion—which, honestly, puts it right up there with the best of the sci-fi canon.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "This wild, AI-generated film is the next step in “whole-movie puppetry”," 11 June 2018
And yet, even as this last patch of rebel territory teeters on the brink of defeat, the rebel infighting continues, with both Jaysh al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman accusing each other of betraying Eastern Ghouta.

— chicagotribune.com, "Assad's divide-and-conquer strategy is working," 28 Mar. 2018
The Tesla teeters between ending up on its roof or settling back on its wheels.

— The Economist, "As Tesla’s share price falls, it becomes an inviting takeover target," 26 May 2018
That helps, of course, as his average teeters around the Mendoza Line.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers Reaction: The first 50 games are done, but Hamels doesn't appear to be | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 23 May 2018
Well, the women did not storm the castle so much as elegantly teeter to the top of Suquet Hill in stilettos and waist-cinching couture.

— julie miller, HWD, "Kristen Stewart and Cate Blanchett Celebrate Patty Jenkins as Storm Rages at Cannes," 14 May 2018
Others spin hula hoops, or leap through the air with a large teeter-totter.

— anne nickoloff, cleveland.com, "Cirque du Soleil will bring acrobatic 'Corteo' tour to Cleveland this fall (photos)," 7 May 2018
Like the French sausage andouillette, another example of Deep Offal, chitlins provoke a fleeting crisis between brain and stomach, a moment when the mind teeters on the edge, deciding whether to react to the incoming data with revulsion or desire.

— brett martin, GQ, "GQ's Best New Restaurants in America, 2018," 23 Apr. 2018
Necco Wafers, those chalky, curiously flavored candies that kids have been throwing away on Halloween for years, are suddenly red hot as their manufacturer teeters on the edge of a shutdown.

— chris morris, Fortune, "No One Likes Necco Wafers, but People Are Hoarding Them Anyway," 10 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of teeter

1860

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

TEETER Defined for English Language Learners

teeter

verb

Definition of teeter for English Language Learners

: to move in an unsteady way back and forth or from side to side

TEETER Defined for Kids

teeter

verb tee·ter \ ˈtē-tər \

Definition of teeter for Students

teetered; teetering

: to move unsteadily back and forth or from side to side

Ramona mounted the bicycle and … teetered and wobbled to the corner without falling off.
—Beverly Cleary, Ramona Quimby

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teeter

Definition of teeter

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teeter

Definition of teeter

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TEETER Defined for English Language Learners

teeter

Definition of teeter for English Language Learners

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