to totter
11
4.8
- verb
- /ˈtɑːtər/
:
tambalearse
- Some species, like macaques, briefly totter on two legs when encumbered with an awkwardly shaped load.
- a man tottered
The voice fails, the eyes grow dim, the ears buzz, the limbs totter.
- The voice fails, the eyes grow dim, the ears buzz, the limbs totter.
Examples
-
Oh, and tottered down that lane in her-- in her high heels and a party dress.
-
Why she can't remember to do that, especially now with little Larry tottering around, is beyond me.
Fiction book (1997) -
And we were kind of tottering along.
-
With his weight committed almost completely forward, Fielding tottered on the edge of losing his balance.
Fiction book (1990) -
I got up, placed Clockie on the floor, and tottered to the bathroom.
Fiction book (1992) -
Rounding the corner, she spotted someone wearing a dark red jacket, tottering like Walter.
Academic text (2007) -
The woman looked with startled eyes after the assassin now tottering off down the street.
Fiction book (1993) -
Several times he stumbled, and finally he tottered, crumpled up, and fell.
Fiction book (1993) -
"Gideon!" she exclaimed, tottering to a nearby chair as she was feeling decidedly faint.
Fiction book (1991) -
After drinking too much, he started to totter down the sidewalk, struggling to keep his balance.
Synonyms
219
2.2
To cause someone to stumble or lose balance
129
1.6
To trip or lose balance while walking and almost fall
49
4.0
Walk in an unsteady way as if about to fall
40
3.8
To move or shake unsteadily from side to side
34
5.6
To move suddenly and unsteadily, often forward or to one side
32
5.7
To move or stand in an unsteady way while rocking back and forth
22
4.1
To walk with short steps and a clumsy side to side movement like a duck
16
4.6
To move in an unsteady way as if about to fall
12
4.8
To move or shake in a slight, unsteady way
4
8.4
To walk in a slow, unsteady way because of old age or weakness
4
7.9
To walk awkwardly while dragging your feet
4
5.6
To move or lean in a way that looks like it might fall
To walk with small, unsteady steps
To walk in a wobbly way as if about to fall
To move unsteadily from side to side
To move unsteadily while rolling from side to side
To walk with an awkward, relaxed bounce
Antonyms
Compounds
How Unsteady
Surface Forms
Etymology
Totter likely comes from an old sound word that 'wobbled' like shaky steps, giving the image of unsteady movement. A helpful way to remember it is to think of the similar word toddle, and that's why Totter means to move or walk in an unsteady way, as if about to fall.