staggered; staggering
ˈsta-g(ə-)riŋ 
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
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
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
: marked by an alternating or overlapping pattern
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
Dwight Stirling, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2025
He was staggered during a 10-game losing streak that saw the Bears fire offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in Week 11 and then launch head coach Matt Eberflus 17 days later.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
Prosecutors presented evidence at Ford's 1999 trial showing Greg had staggered to the middle of the field after being shot; there, Ford slit his throat, almost ear-to-ear, exposing his underlying muscle tissue.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025
Artists will go on at the Forum starting at 6, with performances from Intuit Dome starting at 7:30… and the end times from the two locations will be similarly staggered, mostly so that traffic doesn’t clog the area all at once.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
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Verb
The chairman’s four-year term is intentionally staggered against the president’s term so that a single chairman advises two presidents.
—Dwight Stirling, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2025
He was staggered during a 10-game losing streak that saw the Bears fire offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in Week 11 and then launch head coach Matt Eberflus 17 days later.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
Prosecutors presented evidence at Ford's 1999 trial showing Greg had staggered to the middle of the field after being shot; there, Ford slit his throat, almost ear-to-ear, exposing his underlying muscle tissue.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025
Artists will go on at the Forum starting at 6, with performances from Intuit Dome starting at 7:30… and the end times from the two locations will be similarly staggered, mostly so that traffic doesn’t clog the area all at once.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagger. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
stagger
2 of 2 noun1
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
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