Seesaw: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used to describe a playground equipment consisting of a balanced board that moves up and down. Also can be used metaphorically to describe a situation with frequent changes or oscillations.

• The children enjoyed playing on the seesaw in the park.
• The stock market seesawed all week, making investors anxious.

Another term for seesaw, especially common in American English. Used mainly to describe playground equipment.

• Let's go to the park and play on the teeter-totter.
• They laughed as they went up and down on the teeter-totter.

Often used in gymnastics or circus contexts to refer to a balance board used for acrobatics.

• The circus performer impressed everyone with her skills on the teeterboard.
• The gymnasts practiced their routines on the teeterboard.

Primarily used to describe bouncing a child gently on one's knee or arms. Carries a more nurturing and caring connotation.

• She dandled the baby lovingly on her knee.
• Grandpa used to dandle me and tell stories.

Typically used to describe something that moves back and forth or alternates between two states in a simplified manner, often in a playful or informal context.

• The stock market has been seesawing a lot recently.
• Their moods seemed to seesaw between happiness and sadness.

Used to describe something that varies irregularly, in a consistent up and down pattern, often in a more formal or technical context.

• The temperature fluctuates daily during spring.
• Her weight has fluctuated over the past few months.

Used in more scientific or technical contexts to describe regular or periodic movement between two points, also suitable for describing emotional or psychological states.

• The pendulum of the clock oscillates back and forth.
• His opinions oscillate between extreme beliefs.

Implies a hesitation or inability to decide, often viewed negatively due to the indecisiveness or lack of firmness.

• She tends to vacillate when making important decisions.
• His vacillating attitude irritated his colleagues.