teeter

1 of 2

verb

tee·​ter ˈtē-tər 

teetered; teetering; teeters

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move unsteadily : wobble

b

: waver, vacillate

teetered on the brink of bankruptcy

2

: seesaw

teeter

2 of 2

noun

: seesaw sense 2b

Synonyms of teeter

Verb

• falter
• wobble
• tremble
• totter
• shake
• rock

Examples of teeter in a Sentence

Verb

The pile of books teetered and fell to the floor.

She teetered down the street in her high heels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The past is asserting itself into the present, the future is teetering toward the past, all inside one surreal moment. — Rebekah Taussig, Time, 28 Oct. 2026

In 2008, six days before Barack Obama won the White House, the Fed cut rates by half a percentage point as the financial system teetered. — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Noun

As the whole enterprise of college sports teeters chaotically, Close winning was as healthy a thing as could happen. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Cliffs teeter at 1,640 feet, before tumbling down in a flurry of vineyards and walking trails to the rushing rivers and gorges of Sil and Miño. — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1860, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing teeter

• teeter-totter

Rhymes for teeter

• beater
• cheater
• dieter
• eater
• heater
• liter
• litre
• meter
• metre
• neater
• praetor
• seater

Kids Definition

teeter

verb

tee·​ter

ˈtēt-ər

1

a

: to move unsteadily

teetered on the edge and fell over the side

b

: waver sense 1

2

: seesaw entry 2 sense 2

teeter noun