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adjective Uncommon

giddy

GIHD-ee

Giddy (adjective) means feeling dizzy or unsteady, as if the head is spinning. Example: “She felt giddy after spinning around on the ride.”

adjective
1
Feeling dizzy or unsteady, as if the head is spinning.
"She felt giddy after spinning around on the ride."
2
Overcome with lighthearted excitement or happiness.
"The kids were giddy with excitement on Christmas morning."
"He felt giddy with relief when he got the job offer."

How to use giddy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither physically dizzy, or so excited and happy that you feel a bit lightheaded about it.

Common pairings
giddy with excitement feel giddy giddy laughter

Word forms

giddier comparative, giddied past tense, giddies plural, giddies singular, giddiest superlative

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She felt _____ after spinning around on the ride.

Etymology

From Old English gidig, meaning "possessed by a spirit" or "insane" — the sense softened over time from madness to dizziness to lighthearted excitement.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for giddy

See all rhymes for giddy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “giddy” mean?

The word “giddy” means feeling dizzy or unsteady, as if the head is spinning. In plain terms, either physically dizzy, or so excited and happy that you feel a bit lightheaded about it.

How do you pronounce “giddy”?

“Giddy” is pronounced GIHD-ee (/ˈɡɪd.i/ in IPA).

How do you use “giddy” in a sentence?

Here is “giddy” used in a sentence: “She felt giddy after spinning around on the ride.”

What part of speech is “giddy”?

“Giddy” is an adjective.

Where does the word “giddy” come from?

The word “giddy” comes from Old English. From Old English gidig, meaning "possessed by a spirit" or "insane" — the sense softened over time from madness to dizziness to lighthearted excitement.

Is “giddy” a common word?

“Giddy” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “giddy” have?

“Giddy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling dizzy or unsteady, as if the head is spinning.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial