tottering

[ tot-er-ing ]
/ ˈtɒt ər ɪŋ /

adjective

walking unsteadily or shakily.
lacking security or stability; threatening to collapse; precarious: a tottering empire.

Origin of tottering

OTHER WORDS FROM tottering

tot·ter·ing·ly, adverb un·tot·ter·ing, adjective

Words nearby tottering

Definition for tottering (2 of 2)

totter
[ tot-er ]
/ ˈtɒt ər /

verb (used without object)

to walk or go with faltering steps, as if from extreme weakness.
to sway or rock on the base or ground, as if about to fall: The tower seemed to totter in the wind. The government was tottering.
to shake or tremble: a load that tottered.

noun

the act of tottering; an unsteady movement or gait.

Origin of totter

1150–1200; Middle English toteren to swing < ?

SYNONYMS FOR totter

1 See stagger.
2 waver.
3 oscillate, quiver.

OTHER WORDS FROM totter

tot·ter·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for tottering

British Dictionary definitions for tottering

totter
/ (ˈtɒtə) /

verb (intr)

to walk or move in an unsteady manner, as from old age
to sway or shake as if about to fall
to be failing, unstable, or precarious

noun

the act or an instance of tottering

Derived forms of totter

totterer, noun tottering, adjective totteringly, adverb tottery, adjective

Word Origin for totter

C12: perhaps from Old English tealtrian to waver, and Middle Dutch touteren to stagger