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   Stag·ger

   /ˈstaɡər/

   

   verb

   • 1. walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall: "he staggered to his feet, swaying a little" Similar lurchwalk unsteadilyreelswayteetertotterstumblewobblemove clumsilyweaveflounderfalterpitchroll
   • ▪ continue in existence or operation uncertainly or precariously: "the council staggered from one crisis to the next"
   • ▪ waver in purpose; hesitate. archaic
   • ▪ (of a blow) cause (someone) to walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall: archaic "the collision staggered her and she fell"
   • 2. astonish or deeply shock: "I was staggered to find it was six o'clock" Similar astonishamazenonplusstartleastoundsurprisebewilderstunflabbergastshockshakestop someone in their tracksstupefyleave open-mouthedtake someone's breath awaydumbfounddazebenumbconfounddisconcertshattertake abackjoltshake upinformal:bowl overknock for sixfloorblow someone's mindstrike dumb
   • 3. arrange (events, payments, hours, etc.) so that they do not occur at the same time; spread over a period of time: "meetings are staggered throughout the day" Similar spread (out)space (out)time at intervalsoverlap
   • ▪ arrange (objects or parts of an object) in a zigzag order or so that they are not in line: "stagger the screws at each joint" Similar alternatesteparrange in a zigzag

   noun

   • 1. an unsteady walk or movement: "she walked with a stagger"
   • 2. an arrangement of things in a zigzag order or so that they are not in line.

   Word Origin late Middle English (as a verb): alteration of dialect stacker, from Old Norse stakra, frequentative of staka ‘push, stagger’. The noun dates from the late 16th century.

   Derivatives

   • 1. staggerer noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

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