# dizzy

/ˈdɪzi/ (US) · /dˈɪzi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dizzy
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. feeling like the room is spinning

adjective · CEFR A2

feeling like you are losing your balance or that everything around you is spinning.

For teachers: experiencing a sensation of whirling and loss of balance; often associated with vertigo or lightheadedness.

- I felt dizzy after spinning around in circles with the children.
- The patient reported feeling dizzy whenever she stood up too quickly, suggesting a possible issue with her blood pressure.

### 2. silly or forgetful

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

behaving in a silly way or forgetting things easily.

For teachers: behaving in a scatterbrained, frivolous, or empty-headed manner.

- She is a bit dizzy and often leaves her keys in the front door.
- The character was portrayed as a dizzy socialite who, despite her wealth, could never remember the names of her own staff.

Teaching tip: This sense is informal and can be slightly insulting, though it is often used affectionately among friends.

### 3. to make someone feel unsteady

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to make someone feel like they are spinning or confused.

For teachers: to cause a sensation of vertigo or to bewilder someone.

- The bright lights and loud music started to dizzy the visitors.
- The sheer speed of the technological changes threatened to dizzy even the most experienced engineers in the firm.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- I feel dizzy after standing up quickly.
- She felt dizzy after spinning in circles for a long time at the party.
- The sudden drop in blood pressure left him dizzy and pale, forcing him to sit down before he could speak again.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
