Teeter
verb
To move unsteadily, almost falling.
The stack of plates teetered on the edge of the table
Often appears as...
- teeter on the brink
- teeter on the edge
verb
To be in a situation that has possibility of critical change.
The company is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy
Often appears as...
- teeter on the brink
- teeter on the edge
Usage tips
Business
verb
To move unsteadily, almost falling.
The stack of plates teetered on the edge of the table
Often appears as...
- teeter on the brink
- teeter on the edge
verb
To be in a situation that has possibility of critical change.
The company is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy
Often appears as...
- teeter on the brink
- teeter on the edge
Usage tips
Business
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Instability
Used to describe something or someone not physically stable and at risk of falling.
After spinning around, she teetered and almost fell down.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Effect
Can evoke a feeling of suspense or concern for potential fall or failure.
I held my breath as the performer teetered on the high wire.
Pro Tip 3/3Near Fall
Suggests being very close to losing balance, emphasizing the tension of the moment.
The vase teetered at the table's edge before I caught it.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Instability
Used to describe something or someone not physically stable and at risk of falling.
After spinning around, she teetered and almost fell down.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Effect
Can evoke a feeling of suspense or concern for potential fall or failure.
I held my breath as the performer teetered on the high wire.
Pro Tip 3/3Near Fall
Suggests being very close to losing balance, emphasizing the tension of the moment.
The vase teetered at the table's edge before I caught it.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Instability
Used to describe something or someone not physically stable and at risk of falling.
After spinning around, she teetered and almost fell down.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Effect
Can evoke a feeling of suspense or concern for potential fall or failure.
I held my breath as the performer teetered on the high wire.
Pro Tip 3/3Near Fall
Suggests being very close to losing balance, emphasizing the tension of the moment.
The vase teetered at the table's edge before I caught it.
Never forget "Teeter"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Chinaka Hodge: What will...
Some of us bore children and some of us did not, and none of us questioned whether that made us real or appropriate or true. When she asks you of this year, your daughter, whether your offspring or heir to your triumph, from her comforted side of history teetering towards woman, she will wonder and ask voraciously,
Video examples
How to build a company...
in examination with what is going wrong with our economy. The economy is now flat -- teetering on the brink of failure. Martin You were recently quoted in an article. You said, "I can say this with absolute certainty because I know how markets work." Ray I can say with absolute certainty
Video examples
Does your vote count?...
States that are teetering between between parties are called "swing states." In the past four election cycles, Ohio and Florida have been swing states, twice providing electoral votes for a Democratic candidate, and twice providing electoral votes for a Republican candidate.
Video examples
Meet This Family of...
of these mountain gorillas left in the wild. Over the last few decades, they've been teetering on the edge of extinction, but despite poaching and recent wars, they're still here. thanks to international conservation efforts and dedicated local people.
Video examples
How we can protect truth...
human cooperation and human coordination has some sense of the truth at its core. But with the rise of fake news, the rise of fake video, the rise of fake audio, we are teetering on the brink of the end of reality,
Video examples
The mathematics of love...
So that an arguing couple spiraling into negativity and teetering on the brink of divorce is actually mathematically equivalent to the beginning of a nuclear war. But the really important term in this equation
Video examples
The human skills we need...
that we know we will have to confront, I went and I talked to a number of chief executives whose own businesses had gone through existential crises, when they teetered on the brink of collapse.
Video examples
Michael Green: What the...
Is it any surprise that our world, marching to the drumbeat of GDP, is teetering on the brink of environmental disaster and filled with anger and conflict?
Video examples
The Mysterious Kipunji...
scientists begin to uncover their secret lies Kip enjoys a teetering on the verge of extinction as the isolated forests around Mount Runway are cleared for
Video examples
An Island On the Brink...
Baruch Musa Omar is from the neighbouring island of Pemba when he visited Kuwata for the first time the islet was teetering
Video examples
Chinaka Hodge: What will...
Some of us bore children and some of us did not, and none of us questioned whether that made us real or appropriate or true. When she asks you of this year, your daughter, whether your offspring or heir to your triumph, from her comforted side of history teetering towards woman, she will wonder and ask voraciously,
Video examples
How to build a company...
in examination with what is going wrong with our economy. The economy is now flat -- teetering on the brink of failure. Martin You were recently quoted in an article. You said, "I can say this with absolute certainty because I know how markets work." Ray I can say with absolute certainty
Video examples
Does your vote count?...
States that are teetering between between parties are called "swing states." In the past four election cycles, Ohio and Florida have been swing states, twice providing electoral votes for a Democratic candidate, and twice providing electoral votes for a Republican candidate.
Video examples
Meet This Family of...
of these mountain gorillas left in the wild. Over the last few decades, they've been teetering on the edge of extinction, but despite poaching and recent wars, they're still here. thanks to international conservation efforts and dedicated local people.
Video examples
How we can protect truth...
human cooperation and human coordination has some sense of the truth at its core. But with the rise of fake news, the rise of fake video, the rise of fake audio, we are teetering on the brink of the end of reality,
Video examples
The mathematics of love...
So that an arguing couple spiraling into negativity and teetering on the brink of divorce is actually mathematically equivalent to the beginning of a nuclear war. But the really important term in this equation
Video examples
The human skills we need...
that we know we will have to confront, I went and I talked to a number of chief executives whose own businesses had gone through existential crises, when they teetered on the brink of collapse.
Video examples
Michael Green: What the...
Is it any surprise that our world, marching to the drumbeat of GDP, is teetering on the brink of environmental disaster and filled with anger and conflict?
Video examples
The Mysterious Kipunji...
scientists begin to uncover their secret lies Kip enjoys a teetering on the verge of extinction as the isolated forests around Mount Runway are cleared for
Video examples
An Island On the Brink...
Baruch Musa Omar is from the neighbouring island of Pemba when he visited Kuwata for the first time the islet was teetering
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Toyin Odutola
Nigerian Artist
The social media bit is really about documenting process. I like the dialogue if it's constructive, but I'm now at a crossroads. I've accumulated a lot of followers, and it's great, but I'm also at that teetering point where people are feeling themselves a little too much, commenting a little too much.
Quote examples
Hunter Hayes
American Musician
Wanted' is about a girl I was friends with, but at the time it was teetering on the edge of something more. I wanted to show her that I really cared about her. 'Wanted' was my way of saying, 'we're friends and have a great foundation, and this could be something really special.
Quote examples
Terry Glavin
Canadian Author
Balkh is now little more than a sleepy Afghan town of overgrown ruins forgotten by the world. On market day, down lanes that wind through apple orchards and cherry orchards, merchants slowly make their way to the central bazaar, their wares teetering on donkey carts.
Quote examples
Ant Middleton
English Soldier
When you're in the military, you teeter on the edge of that line of life and death. The reason you feel so alive when you come through is because you know you've cheated death - and that and the adrenaline rush is addictive, no question.
Quote examples
Sonya Walger
English Actress
Juggling is the word. I'm a bad juggler, and there are often balls dropped. There is no balance. The idea of work/life balance is a myth. There's teetering from one end and running to the other and hoping not to fall off.
Quote examples
Mark Zandi
American Economist
It is easy to be pessimistic. These are extraordinarily difficult times, and the collective psyche is teetering. But we are closer to righting the wrongs that got us into this economic mess than most of us believe.
Quote examples
Jack Monroe
British Journalist
Many families teeter on the edges, not qualifying for the little support on offer, unwilling to seek it for fear of drawing attention to a household barely holding the pieces together, or hit by unexpected bills.
Quote examples
Lewis Thomas
American Scientist
It is a distortion, with something profoundly disloyal about it, to picture the human being as a teetering, fallible contraption, always needing watching and patching, always on the verge of flapping to pieces.
Quote examples
Bear Grylls
British Explorer
Life has taught me to be very cautious of a man with a dream, especially a man who has teetered on the edge of life. It gives a fire and recklessness inside that is hard to quantify.
Quote examples
Wade Davis
Canadian Scientist
It's haunting to realize that half of the languages of the world are teetering on the brink of extinction.
Quote examples
Toyin Odutola
Nigerian Artist
The social media bit is really about documenting process. I like the dialogue if it's constructive, but I'm now at a crossroads. I've accumulated a lot of followers, and it's great, but I'm also at that teetering point where people are feeling themselves a little too much, commenting a little too much.
Quote examples
Hunter Hayes
American Musician
Wanted' is about a girl I was friends with, but at the time it was teetering on the edge of something more. I wanted to show her that I really cared about her. 'Wanted' was my way of saying, 'we're friends and have a great foundation, and this could be something really special.
Quote examples
Terry Glavin
Canadian Author
Balkh is now little more than a sleepy Afghan town of overgrown ruins forgotten by the world. On market day, down lanes that wind through apple orchards and cherry orchards, merchants slowly make their way to the central bazaar, their wares teetering on donkey carts.
Quote examples
Ant Middleton
English Soldier
When you're in the military, you teeter on the edge of that line of life and death. The reason you feel so alive when you come through is because you know you've cheated death - and that and the adrenaline rush is addictive, no question.
Quote examples
Sonya Walger
English Actress
Juggling is the word. I'm a bad juggler, and there are often balls dropped. There is no balance. The idea of work/life balance is a myth. There's teetering from one end and running to the other and hoping not to fall off.
Quote examples
Mark Zandi
American Economist
It is easy to be pessimistic. These are extraordinarily difficult times, and the collective psyche is teetering. But we are closer to righting the wrongs that got us into this economic mess than most of us believe.
Quote examples
Jack Monroe
British Journalist
Many families teeter on the edges, not qualifying for the little support on offer, unwilling to seek it for fear of drawing attention to a household barely holding the pieces together, or hit by unexpected bills.
Quote examples
Lewis Thomas
American Scientist
It is a distortion, with something profoundly disloyal about it, to picture the human being as a teetering, fallible contraption, always needing watching and patching, always on the verge of flapping to pieces.
Quote examples
Bear Grylls
British Explorer
Life has taught me to be very cautious of a man with a dream, especially a man who has teetered on the edge of life. It gives a fire and recklessness inside that is hard to quantify.
Quote examples
Wade Davis
Canadian Scientist
It's haunting to realize that half of the languages of the world are teetering on the brink of extinction.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension