teeter-totter

noun
UK: /ˈtiːtəˌtɒtər/
US: /ˈtiːtərˌtɑːtər/

  1. A long, narrow board supported in the middle, on which children sit at each end and move up and down by pushing the ground.

    1. Let's play on the teeter-totter.
    2. The kids were enjoying the teeter-totter in the park, laughing with each up-and-down movement.

  2. A situation or course of action that alternates between two states or conditions.

    1. Life is a teeter-totter.
    2. The company's profits experienced a teeter-totter effect throughout the year due to fluctuating market conditions.

Synonyms

oscillate balance seesaw vacillate waver
teeter-totter intransitive-verb

  1. To move up and down on a teeter-totter.

    1. I like to teeter-totter.
    2. The children teeter-totter in the playground every afternoon after school.

  2. To move uncertainly from side to side; wobble.

    1. He began to teeter-totter.
    2. The vase began to teeter-totter precariously on the edge of the table, threatening to fall.

  3. To alternate between two opinions or courses of action; vacillate.

    1. She teeter-totter on her decision.
    2. The government seemed to teeter-totter between supporting the new policy and maintaining the status quo.
teeter-totter transitive-verb

  1. To cause to move up and down like a teeter-totter.

    1. We teeter-totter each other.
    2. They teeter-totter the box to distribute the sand evenly inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "teeter-totter" in English means: A long, narrow board supported in the middle, on which children sit at each end and move up and down by pushing the ground., A situation or course of action that alternates between two states or conditions..

The phonetic transcription of "teeter-totter" is /ˈtiːtəˌtɒtər/ in British English and /ˈtiːtərˌtɑːtər/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "teeter-totter": oscillate, balance, seesaw, vacillate, waver.

Example usage of "teeter-totter": "Let's play on the teeter-totter.". More examples on the page.