tiptoe

noun tip·toe \ ˈtip-ˌtō , -ˈtō \

|Updated on: 6 Jun 2018

Definition of tiptoe

: the position of being balanced on the balls of the feet and toes with the heels raised —usually used with on; also : the ends of the toes

— on tiptoe

: alert, aroused

the contest of skill that puts one on tiptoe to win
—Deerfield (Wisc.) Independent

See tiptoe defined for English-language learners

See tiptoe defined for kids

Recent Examples of tiptoe from the Web

Austin departs on her tiptoes, probably ferried in a chariot pulled by centaurs.

— tamar adler, Vogue, "What Statement Should Your Wedding Cake Make?," 17 May 2018
As Yong reports, another set of human prints—which were much fainter, as if the person was moving on tiptoes—approaches from the opposite direction.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Fossil Tracks May Record Ancient Humans Hunting Giant Sloths," 30 Apr. 2018
Spectators spring onto their tiptoes; a kid whoops and punches the air as the sled barrels through curve six.

— nick pachelli, Esquire, "Justin Olsen Will Get Lost," 8 Feb. 2018
The ones that want to get the information out kind of tiptoe around.

— bruce henderson, charlotteobserver, "Glowing balls spotted near Charlotte as scientists look for aliens | Charlotte Observer," 10 Jan. 2018
The other girls stalked around the stage, strutting on their tiptoes.

— lizzie feidelson, New York Times, "Inside the High-Drama World of Youth Competition Dance," 21 Dec. 2017
Within a few years, players from other Bay Area teams, local sports announcers and journalists got on their tiptoes and joined the fun.

— bill van niekerken, San Francisco Chronicle, "When the Oakland A’s of the Bash Brothers era performed with the ballet," 19 Dec. 2017
The collective psyche of the Big Orange is already so fragile that embattled coach Butch Jones has to walk on tiptoes.

— david caraviello, ajc, "South Carolina’s path to progress? Make things even worse for Arkansas and Tennessee than they are now," 2 Oct. 2017
Addressing council and presenting the petitions were Sophia Ahmadadeen and Jana Gustin, both 11, as well as Chloe Gustin, 8, who stood on her tiptoes to reach the microphone on the podium.

— thomas jewell, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Heights issues rebuke over Paris Climate Accord: Council recap," 18 July 2017

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

First Known Use of tiptoe

14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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tiptoe

verb

Definition of tiptoe

tiptoed; tiptoeing

intransitive verb

1 : to walk or proceed quietly or cautiously on or as if on tiptoe

tiptoe around the issue

2 : to stand or raise oneself on tiptoe

See tiptoe defined for English-language learners

Examples of tiptoe in a Sentence

She tiptoed through the puddle.
He tiptoed quietly around the house to avoid waking the children.

Recent Examples of tiptoe from the Web

That night, Soo Jin tiptoed into the room her sister shared with Grandmother, whose impossibly loud snoring covered up the girls’ whispering.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award runner-up: "Most Best Happy Korean Bright Star" by Michelle Massie," 2 June 2018
Brinkley’s gifts shine brightest in such passages, when his characters tiptoe toward but never quite reach a lucidity about their own emotional conditions.

— brittany allen, Longreads, "Masters of Contradiction," 24 May 2018
Malcolm didn’t tiptoe around diagnosing the illness of white supremacy or pointing out its symptoms in the form of religious terrorism and police brutality.

— kirsten west savali, The Root, "Malcolm X Matters: Icon’s Words Still Ring True," 19 May 2018
In recent years, other newcomers have begun tiptoeing into the district’s restaurant scene, while young heirs to iconic establishments have started re-energizing their parents’ and grandparents’ businesses.

— jay cheshes, WSJ, "A Feasting Guide to San Francisco’s Newly Glam Chinatown," 2 May 2018
But this time, the network’s top pundits also had to tiptoe around a scandal — Stormy Daniels — that has plagued the president.

— alvin chang, Vox, "Why Fox News limited coverage of the raid of Trump’s lawyer’s office," 12 Apr. 2018
Biden is tiptoeing toward a potential presidential run in 2020, even broaching the possibility during a recent gathering of longtime foreign policy aides.

— Fox News, "Photo of Biden talking to homeless man goes viral: report," 12 Mar. 2018
Last year, NBCUni tiptoed at around 119 minutes for its presentation, while Monday's extravaganza blew past the two-hour mark.

— daniel fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "NBCUniversal's New Show Trailers: A Critic's Ranking," 14 May 2018
Their first year brought out close to 20,000 people all eager to tiptoe through the tulips.

— cristela guerra, BostonGlobe.com, "Tens of thousands of tulips bloom in an unlikely corner of Rhode Island," 9 May 2018

First Known Use of tiptoe

circa 1661

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

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tiptoe

adverb

Definition of tiptoe

: on or as if on tiptoe

See tiptoe defined for English-language learners

Examples of tiptoe in a Sentence

She had to stand tiptoe to reach the shelf.

First Known Use of tiptoe

1592

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

tiptoe

adjective

Definition of tiptoe

1 : standing or walking on or as if on tiptoe

2 : cautious, stealthy

First Known Use of tiptoe

1593

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

TIPTOE Defined for English Language Learners

tiptoe

adverb

Definition of tiptoe for English Language Learners

: with your toes touching the ground and your heels raised up

tiptoe

verb

Definition of tiptoe for English Language Learners

: to walk with your heels raised up and only your toes touching the ground

TIPTOE Defined for Kids

tiptoe

noun tip·toe \ ˈtip-ˌtō \

Definition of tiptoe for Students

: the position of being balanced on the balls of the feet and toes with the heels raised —usually used with on

He stood on tiptoe.

tiptoe

adverb or adjective

Definition of tiptoe for Students

: on or as if on the balls of the feet and toes with the heels raised

I walked tiptoe past the dog.

tiptoe

verb

Definition of tiptoe for Students

tiptoed; tiptoeing

: to walk on the balls of the feet and toes with the heels raised

Learn More about tiptoe

See words that rhyme with tiptoe Spanish Central: Translation of tiptoe Nglish: Translation of tiptoe for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tiptoe for Arabic speakers

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tiptoe

Definition of tiptoe

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tiptoe

Definition of tiptoe

Examples of tiptoe in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tiptoe from the Web

First Known Use of tiptoe

tiptoe

Definition of tiptoe

Examples of tiptoe in a Sentence

First Known Use of tiptoe

tiptoe

Definition of tiptoe

First Known Use of tiptoe

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TIPTOE Defined for English Language Learners

tiptoe

Definition of tiptoe for English Language Learners

tiptoe

Definition of tiptoe for English Language Learners

TIPTOE Defined for Kids

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tiptoe

Definition of tiptoe for Students

tiptoe

Definition of tiptoe for Students

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