sta
gger
Third Person
staggers
Present Participle
staggering
Past Tense
staggered
Past Participle
staggered
1
to move unsteadily or with difficulty
- After a night of heavy drinking, he began to stagger down the street.
- The exhausted hiker started to stagger on the steep descent, fatigued and unsteady on their feet.
- The injured athlete, with a twisted ankle, had to stagger off the field, wincing with each unsteady step.
- In the uneven terrain, the backpacker started to stagger under the weight of their heavy load.
- The elderly gentleman, feeling weak and frail, had to stagger with the assistance of a walker.
2
to organize or set objects or events in a way that avoids overlapping
transitive
- In the choir performance, the director instructed the singers to stagger their entrances for a harmonious effect.
- The manager suggested that the employees stagger their lunch breaks to avoid overcrowding the cafeteria.
- The traffic lights were programmed to stagger the intervals between red and green phases.
- The conference schedule was carefully staggered to allow attendees to participate in various sessions without overlapping.
Synonyms:
3
to cause someone to be surprised, overwhelmed, or deeply affected
transitive
- The unexpected announcement of the company's closure staggered the employees.
- The revelation of the scandalous details in the news article staggered the public.
- The sudden and tragic event staggered the entire community, leaving them mourning and in shock.
- The scale of the natural disaster staggered rescue teams.
- The unexpected plot twist in the novel staggered readers.