verb
stagger
STA-guh
verb
1
To walk unsteadily, as if about to fall.
"He staggered out of the bar and hailed a taxi."
"She staggered to her feet after the fall."
2
To shock or astonish someone.
"The scale of the damage staggered even the experts."
3
To arrange events or times so they don't all happen at once.
"The office staggered shifts to reduce crowding."
noun
1
An unsteady, swaying walk.
"There was a slight stagger in his step after the long flight."
How to Use Stagger
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo walk unsteadily, to shock someone, or to spread things out over time.
Common pairings
staggering amount
stagger the shifts
stagger to one's feet
Word Forms
staggered past tense, staggers plural, staggers plural, staggers singular
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Etymology
From Old Norse stakra, meaning to push or totter.