1
: an alternating up-and-down or backward-and-forward motion or movement
also
: a contest or struggle in which now one side now the other has the lead
2
a
: a pastime in which two children or groups of children ride on opposite ends of a plank balanced in the middle so that one end goes up as the other goes down
b
: the plank or apparatus so used
seesaw
adjective
seesawed; seesawing; seesaws
1
a
: to move backward and forward or up and down
b
: to play at seesaw
2
: alternate
seesaw between two activities
: to cause to move in seesaw fashion
Synonyms
Examples of seesaw in a Sentence
Noun
Their relationship was an emotional seesaw.
Verb
The lead seesawed between the two runners right up to the finish line.
as their boat seesawed in the rough water, the rescue team tried to get the passengers off the sinking ship
Recent Examples on the Web
Sean Conlon, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2024
The final score may betray the possibility the seesaw of a final could have gone either way.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2024
Bryan Mena, CNN, 18 Sep. 2024
Polls show this year's race is exceedingly tight, with seesawing in key battleground states.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for seesaw 
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Noun
October is a historically volatile month for stocks , and this week alone has seen the market seesaw.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2024
The final score may betray the possibility the seesaw of a final could have gone either way.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2024
Verb
Meanwhile, stocks seesawed after the decision was announced.
—Bryan Mena, CNN, 18 Sep. 2024
Polls show this year's race is exceedingly tight, with seesawing in key battleground states.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for seesaw
Dictionary Entries Near seesaw
Cite this Entry
“Seesaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seesaw. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
seesaw
1 of 2 noun
see·saw
ˈsē-ˌsȯ 
1
a
: an up-and-down or backward-and-forward motion or movement
b
: a contest or struggle in which now one side now the other has the lead
2
a
: a game in which two children or groups of children ride on opposite ends of a plank balanced in the middle so that one end goes up as the other goes down
b
: the plank used in the game of seesaw
seesaw
adjective
seesaw
2 of 2 verb
seesawed; seesawing
1
: to move like a seesaw
2
: to play on a seesaw
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