teeter

1 of 2

verb

tee·​ter ˈtē-tər How to pronounce teeter (audio)
teetered; teetering; teeters
Synonyms of teeter

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

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Verb

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
While Berlin’s Tuttle teetered on the verge of being fired by the German government, which funds 40% of the event, Barbera came out of last year’s political polemics on the Lido unscathed. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 The news shocked scientists and engineers across NASA missions, who were suddenly dealt a dose of uncertainty as their job security teetered in political limbo. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
Over the decades, Cricket and Olympia teeter between friendship and love, their orbits colliding at New York galleries and Paris ateliers before painfully coming apart again. — Air Mail, 27 June 2026 While the special effects teeter on the PlayStation 2 side and the script might be thinner than a wafer, as soon as Adkins steps into the scene, everything feels infinitely better. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for teeter

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of teeter was in 1843

Phrases Containing teeter

Rhymes for teeter

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Browse Nearby Words

teetee
teeter
teeterboard
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Cite this Entry

“Teeter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teeter. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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