staggered
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
very shocked or surprised by something, usually because it is so big or unexpected.
deeply astonished or taken aback by information or an event.
Simple“I was staggered by the high price of the hotel room.”
In context“The board members were staggered by the scale of the financial deficit revealed during the emergency audit.”
SynonymsAntonymsunmovedindifferent - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
happening at different times rather than all at once.
arranged in a series of intervals or stages to prevent overcrowding or to manage resources.
Simple“The school has staggered start times so the hallways don't get too crowded.”
In context“The government implemented a staggered release of the new regulations to allow businesses sufficient time to adapt to each phase.”
Antonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
arranged in a way where things are not directly opposite each other or not in a straight line.
positioned in an offset or zigzag pattern rather than in direct alignment.
Simple“The bricks were laid in a staggered pattern to make the wall stronger.”
In context“The seating in the theatre was staggered to ensure that every guest had an unobstructed view of the stage.”
Synonyms
“He staggered rather than sprang out of the lake but it wasn’t surprising.”
“And maybe that’s a message of hope we could use this summer.” There is a staggered global rollout for the rerelease.”