1.stagger的基本意思是“摇晃不定地移动”,通常指虚弱、负重、醉酒等导致身体失去平衡或行走失态,强调不稳定性和失控性。引申可表示遇到困难或处于矛盾状况的任何事务,如头脑困惑不解,观点遭到反对等,也可指“使某人慌乱或震惊”。
2.stagger可用作不及物动词,也可用作及物动词。用作及物动词时,接名词、代词作宾语。可用于被动结构。

stagger about〔around〕 (v.+prep.)
摇摇晃晃,无确定目标地行走 move in an unsteady manner and an uncertain direction around (a place)
▲stagger about〔around〕 sth
Why is that man staggering about the room like that?那人为什么摇摇晃晃地在屋里走来走去?

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
He staggered to his feet.他摇摇摆摆地站起来。
He staggered to the door, bleeding from his wounds.他蹒跚地向大门走去,伤口流着血。
I finally staggered into bed at 3 o'clock in the morning.我最后凌晨3点才摇摇晃晃地上床睡觉。
He staggered under a heavy burden.他被沉重的担子压得摇摇晃晃。
The drunken man staggered towards me.那个醉汉摇摇晃晃地向我走来。
The ship staggered.船晃得厉害。
We staggered to hear that the firm was bankrupt.听说那家公司破产了,我们感到震惊。
I staggered at the price.这价钱使我犹豫不决。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
Our management has decided to stagger our working hour.我们的管理部门已决定错开工作时间。
The difficulty of examination staggered him.考试的困难使他很发愁。
Her incredible story staggers the imagination.她讲的那个令人难以相信的故事使人感到不可思议。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
He was staggered by the blow.他被打得摇摇晃晃。
Vacations were staggered so that only one person was away at a time.假期是间隔的,为的是一次只有一人休假。
I was staggered by his outrageous suggestion.他提出蛮横无理的要求使我感到震惊。

stagger, reel, stumble
这组词都有“蹒跚”的意思。它们的区别是:stagger指虚弱、负重、醉酒等导致身体失去平衡或行走失态; reel指受到打击或眩晕而站立不稳; stumble指由于脚下被绊,迈错步或受惊等而“蹒跚”行走。

stagger还可用作名词,意为“摇晃”。例如:
She gave a stagger as she began to feel faint.她感到头晕时身体摇晃了一下。

［同义词］   amaze
［词源］＜古挪威语stakra(蹒跚)