stagger

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.

   He staggered home after the long, exhausting hike.

2. 2
   verb

   To shock or amaze someone greatly.

   We were staggered by the size of the repair bill.

3. 3
   verb

   To arrange events or activities so they happen at different times rather than all at once.

   The company staggers everyone's lunch breaks.

4. 4
   noun

   An unsteady, swaying movement, as if about to fall.

   He crossed the room with a drunken stagger.

From Middle English stakeren, from Old Norse stakra (“to push, stagger”). Cognate with dialectal Danish stagre.

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