[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/tiptoe/)

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# tiptoe

verb (tiptoe, tiptoes, tiptoed, tiptoeing); noun (on tiptoe, on tiptoes); adverb (on tiptoe)

«tiptoe» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To walk quietly and carefully on the front parts of your feet with your heels off the ground. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#m1)
2. On tiptoe(s): standing or walking on your toes, sometimes to reach higher or to be quiet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#m2)
3. Tiptoe around: to avoid talking about something difficult. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday life you tiptoe so as not to wake a baby or to sneak up quietly. In stories, characters tiptoe to show secrecy or fear. In PE and dance, tiptoe walking builds balance. In safety: stretching on tiptoe on a wobbly chair to reach a high shelf is dangerous — ask for help or use a proper step. Phrases: on tiptoe, tiptoe past, tiptoe around, stand on tiptoes.

### Examples

- We tiptoed past the sleeping baby. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#x1)
- She stood on tiptoe to see over the fence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#x2)
- The burglar tiptoed down the hall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#x3)
- Tiptoe so you don't wake Grandma. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#x4)
- Don't stand on tiptoe on a wobbly stool. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#x5)
- They tiptoed around the subject of the broken vase. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#x6)
- In ballet, dancers dance on the tips of their toes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#x7)
- Then the children crept on tiptoe to a crack in the rocks and got in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/#x8)

### Note

Past: tiptoed; -ing: tiptoeing (keep the «e»). One word: tiptoe. «On tiptoe» and «on tiptoes» are both used.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «tiptoe» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tiptoe/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tiptoe» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tiptoe.html) on Mova free.