tee

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtē 

1

: the letter t

2

: something shaped like a capital T

3

informal : t-shirt

wearing a cotton tee

4

: a mark aimed at in various games (such as curling)

tee

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

a

: a small mound or a peg on which a golf ball is placed before being struck at the beginning of play on a hole

b

: a device for holding a football in position for kicking

c

: an adjustable post on which a ball is placed for batting (as in T-ball)

2

: the area from which a golf ball is struck at the beginning of play on a hole

tee

3 of 3

verb

teed; teeing

transitive verb

: to place (a ball) on a tee

—often used with up

Phrases

to a tee

: exactly, precisely

the description fit her to a tee

Examples of tee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The top is a hybrid of a short-sleeve tee and half-zip sweatshirt, and the wide-leg pants offer a roomy fit. —Emily Weaver, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Meanwhile grip maker Golf Pride—whose equipment has been in the hands of 44 past Masters champions—dubs their tourney tie-in ‘honorary starter,’ after the tradition of golf legends hitting ceremonial tee shots to ring in the major. —Mike Dojc, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Verb

Later this year at the Rocket Classic, a new name will be added to the list of PGA Tour pros when Dominic Clemons tees it up for the first time on the main tour, per Eric Guzman of GolfWeek. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025

The biggest names and best golfers on the PGA Tour including 48 of the top 50 in the world rankings will tee it up on Pete Dye’s famed TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida - home of PGA Tour headquarters. —Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1673, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tee

• ringer tee
• tee ball
• tee-hee
• tee off
• tee off on (someone or something)
• tee shirt
• tee shot
• tee time
• tee up
• wind tee

Rhymes for tee

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

Kids Definition

tee

1 of 3 noun

ˈtē 

1

: the letter t

2

: something shaped like a capital T

3

informal : t-shirt

tee

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: a small peg on which a golf ball is set to be struck

b

: an adjustable post on which a ball is placed for batting (as in T-ball)

2

: the area from which a golf ball is struck in starting play on a hole

tee

3 of 3 verb

teed; teeing

: to place on a tee

teed up the ball