Tottering: meaning, definitions and examples

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tottering

 

[ หˆtษ’tษ™rษชล‹ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

movement unsteadily

Tottering refers to the act of walking unsteadily, often as a result of weakness, instability, or inebriation. This term is commonly used to describe someone who is unbalanced and may fall over. The image it conjures is that of a person who is struggling to maintain their balance while moving forward, often swaying back and forth. It can also imply a sense of fragility, as if the person is on the verge of collapse with each step they take.

Synonyms

staggering, swaying, teetering, wobbling

Examples of usage

  • The toddler was tottering around the living room.
  • After the long night of partying, he was tottering down the street.
  • She was tottering on high heels for the first time.
  • The elderly man was tottering as he exited the bus.

Translations

Translations of the word "tottering" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น balanรงando

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฒเคกเค–เคกเคพเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช torkelnd

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ terhuyung-huyung

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัˆะฐั‚ะบะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ chwiejฤ…cy siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใตใ‚‰ใตใ‚‰ใ™ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท titubant

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ tambaleante

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท sendeleyen

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํœ˜์ฒญ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋Š”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุชุฑู†ุญ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kolรฉbajรญcรญ se

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ kolรญsajรบci

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ‘‡ๆ‘‡ๆฌฒๅ 

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zaฤuden

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ halla

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัˆะฐะนา›ะฐะปะฐั‚ั‹ะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฅแƒแƒœแƒแƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ titrษ™yษ™n

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ tambaleante

Etymology

The word 'totter' originates from the Middle English term 'toteren', which means 'to walk unsteadily'. Its etymology can be traced back to the Old English 'toterian', meaning 'to sway back and forth'. Early usages of the word were often associated with instability and lack of balance, frequently in reference to individuals who were either elderly or inebriated. Over time, the verb evolved, and 'totter' started to be used more broadly to describe any unstable or unsteady movement. The broadened usage reflects the social understanding of instability in both physical and metaphorical contexts, portraying not merely a physical state of being but also emotional or situational frailty.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,105, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.