stagger

1 of 3

verb

stag·​ger ˈsta-gər 

staggered; staggering ˈsta-g(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to reel from side to side : totter

b

: to move on unsteadily

staggered toward the door

2

: to waver in purpose or action : hesitate

3

: to rock violently

the ship staggered

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to doubt or hesitate : perplex

b

: shock or surprise greatly

The amount of money they've spent on this staggers me.

2

: to cause to reel or totter

3

: to arrange in any of various zigzags, alternations, or overlappings of position or time

stagger work shifts

stagger teeth on a cutter

staggerer

ˈsta-gər-ər 

noun

stagger

2 of 3

noun

1

staggers plural in form but singular or plural in construction : an abnormal condition of domestic animals associated with damage to the central nervous system and marked by incoordination and a reeling unsteady gait

2

: a reeling or unsteady gait or stance

3

: an arrangement in which the leading edge of the upper wing of a biplane is advanced over that of the lower

stagger

3 of 3

adjective

: marked by an alternating or overlapping pattern

Synonyms of stagger

Verb

• lurch
• totter
• weave
• stumble
• roll
• shuffle

Examples of stagger in a Sentence

Verb

She staggered over to the sofa.

A hard slap on the back staggered him.

It staggers me to see how much money they've spent on this project.

They staggered the runners' starting positions.

Noun

He walked with a slight stagger.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Dash camera video posted by the Huber Heights Police Department on its Facebook page shows the worker rolling the bin toward a garbage truck, lifting the lid and quickly staggering back before pointing toward the container as officers pull up. —ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026

Here, the blade tips are staggered so that a following rotor blade does not intersect the vortex generated by the one ahead of it, reducing noise and vibration. —David Szondy february 24, New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2026

Trotsky staggered out of the study in the other direction. —Josh Ireland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

As Xavier—who was, rather conveniently, a licensed pilot—guided a plane out of the Colorado bunker in a quest to find her in Atlanta, viewers staggered off the Paradise ride, too confused to tell if that queasiness in the pit of our stomachs was excitement or just motion sickness. —Judy Berman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of earlier stacker, from Middle English stakeren, from Old Norse stakra, frequentative of staka to push; perhaps akin to Old English staca stake — more at stake

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1918, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stagger

• agger
• bagger
• dagger
• swagger

Kids Definition

stagger

1 of 2 verb

stag·​ger ˈstag-ər 

staggered; staggering -(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to move or cause to move unsteadily from side to side as if about to fall

2

a

: to begin to doubt and waver : become less confident

b

: to cause to doubt, waver, or hesitate : overwhelm

were staggered by the problems they had to face

3

: to place or arrange in a zigzag or alternate but regular way

staggerer

-ər-ər 

noun

stagger

2 of 2 noun

1

plural : an abnormal condition of domestic animals associated with damage to the central nervous system and marked by unsteady movements and falling

2

: a reeling or unsteady gait or stance