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
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
David Brennan, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2025
This year, the professor has noticed even more pollen, a result of South Florida’s seesaw of hot and cold weather, which has led to an extended blooming season.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
Sean Conlon, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
With the lack of apparent progress in tariff talks with Netanyahu, market indices seesawed as the two leaders addressed reporters in the White House in the minutes before Wall Street closed mixed after a day of choppy trading.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seesaw
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Noun
The murky path forward for tariffs -- and, in turn, the global economy -- helped fuel seesaw trading on Monday, Bret Kenwell, U.S. investment analyst at eToro, told ABC News.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2025
This year, the professor has noticed even more pollen, a result of South Florida’s seesaw of hot and cold weather, which has led to an extended blooming season.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
Stocks seesawed on Monday as President Donald Trump’s tariffs continued to spark fear of an economic slowdown.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
With the lack of apparent progress in tariff talks with Netanyahu, market indices seesawed as the two leaders addressed reporters in the White House in the minutes before Wall Street closed mixed after a day of choppy trading.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seesaw
Cite this Entry
“Seesaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seesaw. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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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