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
Synonyms
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
Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2024
Catch up quick: While the mayor and commissioners elected from District 1 and 2 will serve four-year terms, District 3 and District 4 will only serve two-year terms, so later elections can be staggered.
—Meira Gebel, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024
The club decided to stagger the stand’s reopening over multiple games — first just the lower tier, then the upper — which meant capacity went up by 7,000 for the home match against Manchester United, improving the supply of tickets.
—Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024
The Peach, Rose, and Sugar bowls will be staggered throughout the day on Jan. 1.
—Ross Terrell, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stagger 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Let There Be Carnage came out staggered as the pandemic was easing.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2024
Catch up quick: While the mayor and commissioners elected from District 1 and 2 will serve four-year terms, District 3 and District 4 will only serve two-year terms, so later elections can be staggered.
—Meira Gebel, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024
The club decided to stagger the stand’s reopening over multiple games — first just the lower tier, then the upper — which meant capacity went up by 7,000 for the home match against Manchester United, improving the supply of tickets.
—Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024
The Peach, Rose, and Sugar bowls will be staggered throughout the day on Jan. 1.
—Ross Terrell, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stagger
Dictionary Entries Near stagger
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagger. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share