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Teetering: meaning, definitions and examples

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teetering

 

[ หˆtiหtษ™rษชล‹ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

physical movement

Teetering refers to the act of swaying or rocking unsteadily, often as if about to fall. It often describes a precarious situation where balance is compromised.

Synonyms

oscillating, swaying, wobbling

Examples of usage

  • The toddler was teetering on the edge of the sidewalk.
  • She was teetering dangerously on the high heels.
  • The stack of books was teetering before it finally fell.
Context #2 | Verb

emotional state

In a metaphorical sense, teetering can also describe being in a state of uncertainty or indecision, whether it be in a situation or emotional context.

Synonyms

fluctuate, hesitate, waver

Examples of usage

  • He was teetering between two choices for his career.
  • The company is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
  • She felt her resolve teetering as she faced new challenges.

Translations

Translations of the word "teetering" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น tremulando

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคเฅ‚เคฒเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช wackeln

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ goyang

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝะฐะผั–ั‡ะฐั‚ะธัั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ chwiejฤ…cy siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆบใ‚Œใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท vacillant

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ tambalear

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท sallanmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํœ˜์ฒญ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูŠุชุฃุฑุฌุญ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kolรญsรกnรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ kolรญsanie

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ‘‡ๆ‘†

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ tresenje

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ vaggandi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะฐะปั‚ั‹ั€ะฐัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒขแƒ แƒ˜แƒแƒšแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ sallanma

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ tambalear

Etymology

The term 'teeter' traces back to Middle English 'teiteren,' which means to move unsteadily or to sway. It's believed to have originated from an onomatopoeic formation, mimicking the sound and action of something wobbling or oscillating. The word has evolved over time, but its core meaning remains tied to the idea of instability and precariousness. In modern usage, 'teetering' conveys both physical unsteadiness and metaphorical uncertainty, reflecting the duality of the term in describing both tangible actions and abstract feelings.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,919, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.