verb / noun

teeter

TEE-ter/ˈtiːtər/

To wobble or remain precariously balanced.

The woman teeters on the narrow edging beam with her arms spread.

A woman wobbles on a low, narrow garden edging beam, one foot tipping sideways and her arms thrown in opposite directions as she struggles not to fall.

Etymology

The older verb titter already described moving unsteadily, as if about to fall. Teeter also described seesaw-like motion, an image that captures its rocking, precarious balance.

In context

Dana K White9:00

i make the stacks according to where things are gonna go so then i can go take them as soon as they start to teeter

Home Routine Tip: The Laundry Strategy that Changes the Whole House

More examples

She teetered on her high heels before finding her balance.
The company is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
After a brief teeter, he regains his balance.

Forms

teeter · teeters · teetered · teetering

Similar words

wobble: Emphasizes irregular movement rather than being close to falling.
sway: Describes side-to-side movement without necessarily suggesting a loss of balance.
totter: Often describes unsteady standing or walking caused by weakness.