What does "staggering" mean?

1. (shocking or impressive) very shocking or surprising because it is so large or extreme. 2. (walking unsteadily) walking or moving as if you are about to fall over. 3. (spacing things out) the act of arranging things so they happen at different times rather than all at once.

How do you use "staggering"?

Often used in business or project management contexts.

staggering

adj. · n.

US //ˈstæɡɝˌɪŋ// UK //stˈæɡəɹɪŋ// stag·ger·ing

1 shocking or impressive (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

very shocking or surprising because it is so large or extreme.

deeply shocking, astonishing, or overwhelming, typically in reference to a quantity, cost, or achievement.

Example

The cost of repairing the old bridge was a staggering five million dollars.

Example

The company reported a staggering loss in the third quarter, far exceeding the pessimistic predictions of most market analysts.
- ordinary
- unimpressive
- minor
2 walking unsteadily (adj.)
C1 Advanced Literary

walking or moving as if you are about to fall over.

moving or walking unsteadily, as if unable to maintain balance.

Example

The staggering man tried to hold onto the wall to keep his balance.

Example

He made a staggering exit from the room, his physical exhaustion evident in every heavy, uncertain step.
- reeling
- lurching
- unsteady
- steady
- stable

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3 spacing things out (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical

the act of arranging things so they happen at different times rather than all at once.

the arrangement of events, shifts, or actions so that they occur at different intervals rather than simultaneously.

Example

The staggering of work hours helped reduce the number of people in the office at one time.

Example

A careful staggering of the project phases ensured that the specialized equipment was never sitting idle between tasks.

Usage

Often used in business or project management contexts.
- phasing
- interval
- simultaneity