stagger

play

verb stag·ger \ ˈsta-gər \

Definition of stagger

staggered; staggering play \-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 :to cause to doubt or hesitate :perplex

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

play \-gər-ər\ noun

See stagger defined for English-language learners

See stagger defined for kids

Examples of stagger in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of stagger from the Web

Aid workers have told horror stories of desperate refugees staggering to safety despite bullet wounds and burn injuries.

— ishaan tharoor, Washington Post, "The world’s ‘most friendless people’ are under assault yet again," 31 Aug. 2017
Travelers at El Prat airport have staggered through three-hour security lines, the result of a protracted strike from weary employees rundown from ever-increasing numbers that require their vigilance.

— annabelle timsit, The Atlantic, "Spanish Anti-Tourists and North Korean Defectors: The Week in Global-Affairs Writing," 25 Aug. 2017
For months, health officials in socially conservative Oklahoma City have been staggered by a fast-spreading outbreak of a disease that, for nearly two decades, was considered all but extinguished.

— jan hoffman, The Seattle Times, "Once thought all but conquered, syphilis has come roaring back," 24 Aug. 2017
But he was staggered by three straight bogeys from 14-16.

— tod leonard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Peru's Perico and Torrey Pines are match made for Junior World title," 14 July 2017
Some of the victims, dazed and bloodied, staggered around the legislature’s gardens.

— The Economist, "The homecoming kingWhat the unjailing of Leopoldo López means for Venezuela," 13 July 2017
The level of stupidity of the conspirators is staggering:

— frank rich, Daily Intelligencer, "Watching the Downfall of a Presidency in Real Time," 12 July 2017
The magnitude of these cuts and changes to Medicaid is staggering.

— Naperville Sun, "Letters to the editor: Roundup, Naper Settlement, Carillon, dog rescue," 29 June 2017
The president’s success is staggering, and the positive optimism of his politics critical, especially at a moment when a struggling and bruised U.K. is entering Brexit negotiations.

— isobel thompson, The Hive, "Did Emmanuel Macron Just Became the Most Powerful Man in Europe?," 19 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stagger.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of stagger

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

stagger Synonyms

Synonyms

careen, dodder, lurch, reel, teeter, totter, waddle

Antonyms

dive (in), plunge (in)

Related Words

rock, roll, seesaw, swag, sway, waver, weave, wobble (also wabble); barge, blunder, clomp, clump, flounder, galumph, lumber, lump, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stumble, tramp, tromp

Near Antonyms

decide; budge, stir; advance, continue

stagger

noun

Definition of stagger

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

See stagger defined for English-language learners

Examples of stagger in a Sentence

He walked with a slight stagger.

Recent Examples of stagger from the Web

A concerned Shaw watched Meyer, dazed and bleeding from scrapes, stagger to his feet.

— gary d'amato, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "D'Amato: Carl Meyer keeps swinging, and swinging, for veterans," 4 July 2017
The clumsy stagger-step between every action is a pain, but it’s basically all there is to Valkyria Revolution’s combat.

— steven strom, Ars Technica, "Valkyria Revolution trades in cult-classic status for wasted promise," 27 June 2017
And now the Celtics stagger forward without their leading scorer and best playmaker into Quicken Loans Arena to take on the Cavs, who throttled them twice in Boston and have won 13 straight postseason games.

— tom withers, courant.com, "Bradley Hits Last-second Shot, Celtics Stun Cavs, 111-108," 21 May 2017
The Celtics didn't always use a stagger screen to elicit the switch.

— adi joseph, USA TODAY, "Wizards keep allowing Isaiah to torch Morris," 4 May 2017

First Known Use of stagger

1577

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

stagger

adjective

Definition of stagger

:marked by an alternating or overlapping pattern

First Known Use of stagger

1918

STAGGER Defined for English Language Learners

stagger

play

verb

Definition of stagger for English Language Learners

: to move or cause (someone) to move unsteadily from side to side
: to shock or surprise (someone) very much
: to arrange (things) in a series of different positions or times

stagger

noun

Definition of stagger for English Language Learners

: an unsteady movement while walking or standing

STAGGER Defined for Kids

stagger

play

verb stag·ger \ ˈsta-gər \

Definition of stagger for Students

staggered; staggering

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

He staggered under the load's weight.

2 :to cause or feel great surprise or shock

The news staggered me.

3 :to arrange or be arranged in a zigzag but balanced way

She stared at the dark brown and purple ridges staggered in the distance …
—Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

stagger

noun

Definition of stagger for Students

:a reeling or unsteady walk

Learn More about stagger

See words that rhyme with stagger Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stagger Spanish Central: Translation of stagger Nglish: Translation of stagger for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stagger for Arabic speakers

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stagger

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stagger

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STAGGER Defined for English Language Learners

stagger

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stagger

Definition of stagger for English Language Learners

STAGGER Defined for Kids

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