English vocabulary · B2
Teeter
/ˈtiːtər/ · v.
It means to move unsteadily from side to side, like you might fall over.
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Example sentences
- The stack of boxes teetered on the shelf.
- Her old bike teetered over the road.
Word origin and roots
from Middle English
- titter — to totter (from Middle English)
Synonyms and nuances
Similar words
Lesson notes
Teeter. It means to move unsteadily from side to side, like you might fall over.
Related: wobble, sway, stagger. Use teeter when something might tip over and fall.
The stack of boxes teetered on the shelf. Her old bike teetered over the road.
From Middle English. Titter- means to totter. Something on the edge, shaking, about to fall — that is teeter.