Stagger Meaning
/ˈstæɡə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn unsteady movement of the body in walking or standing as if one were about to fall; a reeling motion.
nounA disease of horses and other animals, attended by reeling, unsteady gait or sudden falling.
Sentence Examples
The company is attempting to stagger work hours.
Nothing can ever stagger her belief.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the strong punch to his head, he began to ____ and almost fell.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The high cost of the new project began to ____ the committee members who had expected a much lower price.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English stakeren, from Old Norse stakra (“to push, stagger”). Cognate with dialectal Danish stagre.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Afy slowly gathered in the sense of the words. She gasped twice, as if her breath had gone, and then, with a stagger and a shiver, fell heavily to the ground."
— 1861, Ellen Wood, chapter 39, in East Lynne:
"And when old Fezziwig and Mrs. Fezziwig had gone all through the dance; advance and retire; both hands to your partner, bow and courtesy, corkscrew, thread the needle, and back again to your place; Fezziwig "cut"—cut so deftly that he appeared to wink with his legs, and came upon his feet again without a stagger."
— 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “(please specify the page number)”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC:
"Deep was the wound; he staggered with the blow."
— 1697, Virgil, “Palamon and Arcite”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"The burnt and bleeding man staggered to his feet, dazed and unbelieving, and asked the startled townspeople who came running whether his fireman and guard were safe. He was kept away from the smouldering crater where his engine had been, and taken to hospital."
— 2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 43:
"That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire / That staggers thus my person."
— 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the strong punch to his head, he began to ____ and almost fell.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The high cost of the new project began to ____ the committee members who had expected a much lower price.