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Glite Dictionary
🤫 To walk quietly 🦶 Front of foot 🦶 On your toes
tiptoe

tiptoe

2.5
On the toes to reach something high or move quietly
  • adverb
  • /ˈtɪpˌtoʊ/
translation icon : de puntillas
  • He stood tiptoe to reach the top shelf.

Examples

  • She waited tiptoe outside the room, hoping not to wake the baby.

  • She walked tiptoe through the dark hallway.

  • He stood tiptoe to reach the top shelf.

  • The cat crept tiptoe across the kitchen floor.

  • Can you tiptoe around the sleeping baby?

  • She waited tiptoe outside the room, hoping not to wake the baby.

  • Can you tiptoe around the sleeping baby?

Synonyms

to tip
vstiptoe
9 6.7

To walk quietly on the tips of your toes

is also used to reach something high rather than only for quiet movement
to tippytoe
vstiptoe
7.4

To walk quietly on your toes to avoid making noise

is also used to reach something high rather than only careful silent walking
to pussyfoot
vstiptoe
  • Informal
8.9

To move quietly and carefully to avoid being noticed

focuses on being on the toes to move quietly not general cautious movement

Antonyms

to stomp
144 2.9

To walk heavily and loudly to show anger or determination

Idioms

to tiptoe through a minefield
  • Informal
8.8

To act very carefully in a difficult situation to avoid mistakes or offend people

How Fast

sprint
55 2.1
to run
∞ 1.0
to stride
16 2.7
to step
∞ 1.0
to walk
∞ 1.0
tiptoe
2.5

Surface Forms

tiptoe positive

Morphology

tiptoe = tip + toe (transparent) = tip + toe

The meaning is directly derived from 'tip' + 'toe' (the tips of the toes) and is clear to learners.

Etymology

Tiptoe comes from the two simple parts tip ('end' or 'point') and toe ('the front of the foot'), so it literally pictures standing on the very 'tips of your toes'. That's why to stand tiptoe means to be on the front of your feet to reach up or be quiet.