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

At the same time, the private credit world is said to be teetering because it is based on syndicated and damaged private equity loans. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026

Two cars teetered at the jagged edge, their noses tipped skyward, almost frozen in the instant before a plunge. —Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026

Noun

This peach shade teeters somewhere between baby pink and pastel coral. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026

The Sandlot’s picture of adolescence teeters between awkward and awesome. —Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025

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