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

: 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

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

Verb

• careen
• dodder
• lurch
• reel
• teeter
• totter
• waddle

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

The Peach, Rose, and Sugar bowls will be staggered throughout the day on Jan. 1. —Ross Terrell, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

That moment came in the third round when the champ staggered the ex-champ with a right. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

The deadlines for states to certify the official vote tallies are staggered. —Brian Bennett, TIME, 2 Nov. 2024

Finally, China releases key updates on price trends on Nov. 9, with the focus on whether consumer inflation continues to stagger along at a pace just north of zero, and factory-gate prices slide further, after declines deepened in the previous two months. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2024

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

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