tiptoe

1 of 4

noun

tip·​toe ˈtip-ˌtō 

-ˈtō

: the position of being balanced on the balls of the feet and toes with the heels raised

—usually used with on

also : the ends of the toes

tiptoe

2 of 4

verb

tiptoed; tiptoeing

intransitive verb

1

: to walk or proceed quietly or cautiously on or as if on tiptoe

tiptoe around the issue

2

: to stand or raise oneself on tiptoe

tiptoe

3 of 4

adverb

: on or as if on tiptoe

tiptoe

4 of 4

adjective

1

: standing or walking on or as if on tiptoe

2

: cautious, stealthy

Phrases

on tiptoe

: alert, aroused

the contest of skill that puts one on tiptoe to win

—Deerfield (Wisc.) Independent

Examples of tiptoe in a Sentence

Verb

She tiptoed through the puddle.

He tiptoed quietly around the house to avoid waking the children.

Adverb

She had to stand tiptoe to reach the shelf.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Eight, allergic to dust, asthmatic, stigmatic with mystery rashes, balanced tiptoe on a stack of peat briquettes wound in butcher’s twine, fingers smutty from Suttons Premium Polish Coal. —Dean Browne, The New York Review of Books, 27 May 2021

Latecomers are standing on tiptoes, peering between flags, white shirts, television cameras and phones. —Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024

Verb

But at least Bo knows the Broncos are not beating the Chiefs by passive-aggressively tiptoeing into the stadium and kicking a few field goals. —Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024

There is a choice between tiptoeing mindlessly down a bread-crumb trail of what-ifs and taking issue with a business structure and culture of never-ending, disconcerting enablement, a choice between gorging on memes and supporting victims who continue to come forward highlighting abuses of power. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1661, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adverb

1592, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tiptoe

• tiptoe around

Kids Definition

tiptoe

1 of 3 noun

tip·​toe ˈtip-ˌtō 

-ˈtō

1

: the tip of a toe

2

: the ends of the toes

tiptoe

2 of 3 adverb or adjective

: on or as if on tiptoe

tiptoe

3 of 3 verb

tiptoed; tiptoeing

: to walk on tiptoe