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# staggering

«staggering» in Mova's school dictionary: **Very surprising and shocking, because it is so large or…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 3 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (staggering); verb (-ing form of stagger)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Very surprising and shocking, because it is so large or amazing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staggering/#m1)

2) (verb) Walking unsteadily, almost falling. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staggering/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In news, science and maths talk, «a staggering number» means a hugely large number, like the staggering distance to the stars. In stories it can mean walking unsteadily. Phrases: «a staggering amount», «staggering success».

### examples

- The cost of the new stadium is staggering. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staggering/#x1)
- A staggering million people watched the parade. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staggering/#x2)
- The view from the mountain top was staggering. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staggering/#x3)
- He came staggering out of the smoke. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staggering/#x4)
- The Sun is a staggering 150 million kilometres from Earth. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staggering/#x5)
- Her success was staggering for someone so young. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staggering/#x6)
- He wetted his lips to be ready, but Hook came staggering out, without his lantern. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staggering/#x7)

### note

Adjective use is very common; the meaning is «amazing because so big». Similar: astonishing, astounding. In maths writing it gives feeling, not a number.

### In the corpora

- [Before they set off, the Rat climbs up into his hole and comes back staggering under a fat wicker picnic basket.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/26-willows-ch1-part2-the-river-and-the-wild-wood/0/)
- [Just then the shopper is back, staggering under a full basket, and soon the table is covered with good things.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/9/)
- [Thou hast made Thy people to see hard things; Thou hast made us to drink the wine of staggering.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PSA.980/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «staggering» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staggering/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.