totter

1 of 2

verb

tot·​ter ˈtä-tər How to pronounce totter (audio)
tottered; tottering; totters

intransitive verb

1
: to move unsteadily : stagger, wobble
2
a
: to tremble or rock as if about to fall : sway
b
: to become unstable : threaten to collapse

totter

2 of 2

noun

: an unsteady gait : wobble

Examples of totter in a Sentence

Verb The child tottered across the room. He tottered away to bed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
European auto sales charts are filled with red ink as economies totter but a rare positive story surrounds Toyota’s premium subsidy Lexus, which will be helped by its newest electric vehicle, the RZ 300e. Neil Winton, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 America was full of hope, tottering hastily toward a technological age filled with grand expectations for the future. Ruby Thélot, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024
Noun
His son struggles to keep the Vegas’ gym, in Los Angeles, afloat amid the pandemic; his grandson, who is gay, totters between academic ambition and self-exploitation. The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024 But the purchase also is a reminder that the Bay Area office market totters at the edge of an economic abyss of plunging values, faltering rents, rising foreclosures, sky-high interest rates, and tough financing markets. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 4 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for totter 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'totter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English toteren

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

1709, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of totter was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near totter

Cite this Entry

“Totter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/totter. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

totter

verb
tot·​ter
ˈtät-ər
1
: to sway or rock as if about to fall
2
: to move unsteadily : stagger
tottery
-ə-rē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on totter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!