Teasing has multiple meanings and uses. In human interactions, teasing exists in three major forms: playful, hurtful, and educative. Teasing can have a variety of effects, depending on how it is used and its intended effect. When teasing is unwelcome, it may be regarded as harassment or mobbing, especially in the workplace and school, or as a form of bullying or emotional abuse. If done in public, it may be regarded as humiliation.

Teasing can also be regarded as educative when it is used as a way of informal learning. Adults in some of the Indigenous American communities often tease children to playfully illustrate and teach them how their behavior negatively affects the community. Children in many Indigenous American communities also learn by observing what others do in addition to collaborating with them. Along with teasing, this form of informal learning is different from the ways that Western American children learn. Informal ways of child learning include mutual responsibility, as well as active collaboration with adults and peers. This differentiates from the more formal way of learning because it is not adult-oriented.

People may be teased on matters such as their appearance, weight, behavior, family, gender, faith, health/medical issues, abilities, clothing, and intelligence. From the victim's point of view, this kind of teasing is often hurtful, irrespective of the intention of the teaser. One may also tease an animal. Some animals, such as dogs and cats, may recognize this both as play or harassment.

A common form of teasing is verbal bullying or taunting. This behavior is intended to distract, disturb, offend, sadden, anger, bother, irritate, or annoy the recipient. Because it is hurtful, it is different from joking and is generally accompanied by some degree of social rejection. Teasing can also mean "To make fun of; mock playfully" or "to be sarcastic".

Dacher Keltner uses Penelope Brown's classic study of the differences between "on-record" and "off-record" communication to illustrate how people must learn to read others' tone of voice and facial expressions to develop appropriate responses to teasing.

A form of teasing often overlooked is educational teasing. This form is commonly used by parents and caregivers in two Indigenous American communities and Mexican Heritage communities to guide their children toward more prosocial behavior. For example, when a parent teases a child who is throwing a tantrum for a piece of candy, the parent will pretend to give the child the candy, then take it away and ask the child to correct their behavior before giving it back. In this way, the parent teaches the child the importance of maintaining self-control. When adults educate children through teasing, they are informally teaching the children. This type of learning is often overlooked because it is different from the way Western American Communities teach their children.^{[citation needed]}

Another form of teasing is pretending to give the other person something they desire, or giving it very slowly. This is usually done by arousing curiosity or desire, and may not actually involve the intent to satisfy or disclose. This form of teasing could be called "tantalizing", after the story of Tantalus. Tantalizing is generally playful among adults, but among children it can be hurtful, such as when one child acquires another's property and refuses to return it. It is also common in flirting and dating. For example, a person who is romantically interested in someone might reject an advance the first time to arouse interest and curiosity, and give in the second or third time.

Whether teasing is playful, hurtful, or educative is largely a matter of interpretation for the person being teased. If the person being teased feels harmed, then the teasing is hurtful. A difference in power between people may also make the behavior hurtful rather than playful. Ultimately, if someone perceives themselves as the victim of teasing and experiences it as unpleasant, it is considered hurtful. If parents' intentions are positive, as in many Indigenous American communities, then teasing within the community can be seen as an educational tool. The child may or may not understand that at the moment. If the other person continues to do it after being asked to stop, then it is a form of bullying or abuse.