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 Bruins needed offense from the center, especially after Elias Lindholm staggered at the start. —Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025

On November 28, 1924, Raymond A. Dart, a professor at the University of Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg, was getting ready to attend a friend’s wedding when a pair of South African Railways workers staggered up his driveway with two large crates. —Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025

Meanwhile, the story goes, China is powering ahead, pairing ambitious economic and diplomatic agendas with a massive military expansion while the United States staggers under the weight of inequality, stagnating wages, legislative gridlock, political polarization, and populism. —Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025

The video appears to show Strahinja climb over a row of seats before punching another fan with his right fist, causing the other fan to stagger backwards for a moment. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025

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