Word · CEFR C2 · Frequency #16056
tottered
蹒跚；动摇
tottered is the past of totter.
to move in an unsteady way, as if about to fall
- 1.
To walk, move or stand unsteadily or falteringly; threatening to fall.
行走、移动或站立时不稳或摇晃,有跌倒之虞。
- 2.
To be on the brink of collapse.
处于崩溃边缘。
行走、移动或站立时不稳或摇晃,有跌倒之虞。；处于崩溃边缘。；蹒跚；动摇
In use
After spinning around too quickly, she tottered and grabbed the edge of the table.
The little boy is tottering across the garden with his new walking shoes.
Despite his injury, he tottered toward the finish line.
totter + adv./prep.
totter 是不及物动词，方向或地点需用介词或副词引出。
The toddler tottered across the room.
那个学步的孩子摇摇晃晃地穿过房间。
totter on the brink/edge of sth
用于比喻，表示局势或机构极不稳定，即将失败或崩溃。
The negotiations are tottering on the brink of collapse.
谈判正摇摇欲坠，濒临破裂。
totter to one's feet
强调费力地站起来，通常因为虚弱或受伤。
Connections
Collocations
- totter to one's feet
- 摇摇晃晃地站起来
- She tottered to her feet and tried to smile.她摇摇晃晃地站起来，努力露出微笑。
- totter along the street
- 沿街蹒跚而行
- The old man tottered along the street with a walking stick.老人拄着拐杖沿街蹒跚而行。
- totter on the brink of collapse
- 在崩溃边缘摇摇欲坠
- The government tottered on the brink of collapse.政府摇摇欲坠，濒临崩溃。
- totter under the weight of
- 在……的重压下摇摇欲坠
- The injured climber tottered under the weight of his backpack.受伤的登山者被背包压得步履蹒跚。
- totter around
- 蹒跚走动
- The toddler tottered around the kitchen.幼儿在厨房里蹒跚走动。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
联想小娃娃（tot）刚学步，摇摇摆摆、蹒跚前行。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：描述人走路不稳、比喻政权、公司等摇摇欲坠 totter 通常用于书面或文学性叙述，形容人或事物不稳、即将倒下；日常口语中较少用，较口语的说法可用 stagger 或 wobble。
Pronunciation & Spelling
在英式发音中，potter、hotter、trotter、blotter、squatter、jotter 都以 /ɒtə/ 结尾，与 totter 押韵。注意拼写相似的 tutor /ˈtjuːtə/ 和 tooter /ˈtuːtə/ 读音不同；美式英语中 totter 常读作 /ˈtɑːtər/。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY.