stagger

[ stag-er ]

/ ˈstæg ər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR stagger ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to walk, move, or stand unsteadily.

to falter or begin to give way, as in an argument or fight.

to waver or begin to doubt, as in purpose or opinion; hesitate: After staggering momentarily, he recognized that he had to make a decision.

verb (used with object)

to cause to reel, totter, or become unsteady: This load would stagger an elephant.

to shock; render helpless with amazement or the like; astonish: The vastness of outer space staggers the mind.

to cause to waver or falter: The news staggered her belief in the triumph of justice.

to arrange in a zigzag order or manner on either side of a center: The captain staggered the troops along the road.

to arrange otherwise than at the same time, especially in a series of alternating or continually overlapping intervals: They planned to stagger lunch hours so that the cafeteria would not be rushed.

Aeronautics. to arrange (the wings of a biplane or the like) so that the entering edge of an upper wing is either in advance of or behind that of a corresponding lower wing.

noun

the act of staggering; a reeling or tottering movement or motion.

a staggered order or arrangement.

Aeronautics.

a staggered arrangement of wings.
the amount of staggering.

staggers. (used with a singular verb) Veterinary Pathology.

Also called blind staggers. acute selenium poisoning of livestock characterized by a staggering gait usually followed by respiratory failure and death.
a condition of unknown cause, occurring in pregnant sheep, cattle, and other animals during or just following extended transport, characterized by a staggering gait and progressive paralysis.

Origin of stagger

1520–30; earlier stacker to reel, Middle English stakeren < Old Norse stakra to reel, equivalent to stak(a) to stagger + -ra frequentative suffix

SYNONYMS FOR stagger

1 Stagger, reel, totter suggest an unsteady manner of walking. To stagger is successively to lose and regain one's equilibrium and the ability to maintain one's direction: to stagger with exhaustion, a heavy load, or intoxication. To reel is to sway dizzily and be in imminent danger of falling: to reel when faint with hunger. To totter is to move in a shaky, uncertain, faltering manner and suggests the immediate likelihood of falling from weakness or feebleness: An old man tottered along with a cane.

3 vacillate.

5 astound, confound, dumfound.

7 alternate.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR stagger ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM stagger

stag·ger·er, noun out·stag·ger, verb (used with object) un·stag·gered, adjective

Words nearby stagger

stagestruck, stagey, stagflation, stagg, staggard, stagger, stagger head, staggerbush, staggered directorships, staggered hours, staggering

Example sentences from the Web for staggered

His success later in the afternoon has staggered a nation and sent two families reeling from heartache that never diminishes.

Any Outrage Out There for Ramos and Liu, Protesters? |Mike Barnicle |December 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Kitty staggered around the corner to the rear of her building, trying to make it home.

The Myth of the Central Park Five |Edward Conlon |October 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I was not prepared for the staggered, ruthless falling apart of one of the people I love most in the world.

No One Ever Loses to Cancer |Dushka Zapata |October 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Edwards (who was governor for a total of sixteen, staggered years from 1972 to 1996) was long-dogged by charges of corruption.

Vote for the (Alleged) Crooks! How Rick Perry, Chris Christie, and Scott Walker are Running While Under Investigation |Olivia Nuzzi |August 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Sid was the only one who laughed; staggered around, holding his gut.

Mel Brooks Is Always Funny and Often Wise in This 1975 Playboy Interview |Alex Belth |February 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
As for the farmer he staggered back, spitting blood from his mouth, and growling out curses at the boy.

Jones of the 64th |F. S. (Frederick Sadleir) Brereton
I staggered to my feet, but felt so weak and giddy that I was compelled to fall back into a chair.

Masterpieces of Mystery In Four Volumes |Various
Davis staggered back with arms covering his face protectingly and again Jack struck him heavily between the eyes.

The Boy Allies Under the Sea |Robert L. Drake
Bayard worked till he staggered for the women and children whom the sea bereft.

A Singular Life |Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
He staggered out, with Mrs. Biggs just behind him, and from that moment they were all demoralized.

Where There's A Will |Mary Roberts Rinehart

British Dictionary definitions for staggered

stagger

/ (ˈstæɡə) /

verb

(usually intr) to walk or cause to walk unsteadily as if about to fall

(tr) to astound or overwhelm, as with shock I am staggered by his ruthlessness

(tr) to place or arrange in alternating or overlapping positions or time periods to prevent confusion or congestion a staggered junction; to stagger holidays

(intr) to falter or hesitate his courage staggered in the face of the battle

(tr) to set (the wings of a biplane) so that the leading edge of one extends beyond that of the other

noun

the act or an instance of staggering

a staggered arrangement on a biplane, etc

Derived forms of stagger

staggerer, noun

Word Origin for stagger

C13 dialect stacker, from Old Norse staka to push

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

stagger

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of stagger

SYNONYMS FOR stagger

OTHER WORDS FROM stagger

Words nearby stagger

Example sentences from the Web for staggered

British Dictionary definitions for staggered

verb

noun

Derived forms of stagger

Word Origin for stagger

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

stagger

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of stagger

SYNONYMS FOR stagger

OTHER WORDS FROM stagger

Words nearby stagger

Words related to staggered

Example sentences from the Web for staggered

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for staggered

verb

noun

Derived forms of stagger

Word Origin for stagger

British Dictionary definitions for staggered