dizzy

1 of 2

adjective

diz·​zy ˈdi-zē 

dizzier; dizziest

1

: foolish, silly

2

a

: having a whirling sensation in the head with a tendency to fall

b

: mentally confused

3

a

: causing giddiness or mental confusion

dizzy heights

b

: caused by or marked by giddiness

c

: extremely rapid

prices climbing at a dizzy rate

dizzily

ˈdi-zə-lē 

adverb

dizziness

ˈdi-zē-nəs 

noun

dizzy

2 of 2

verb

dizzied; dizzying

transitive verb

1

: to make dizzy or giddy

2

: bewilder

disasters that dizzy the mind

dizzyingly

ˈdi-zē-iŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Adjective

• aswoon
• giddy
• light-headed
• reeling
• swimmy
• vertiginous
• whirling
• woozy

Examples of dizzy in a Sentence

Adjective

The children were dizzy after spinning in circles.

I'm feeling a bit weak and dizzy. I think I'm having a dizzy spell.

Complex math problems make me dizzy.

looking down from dizzy heights

Prices rose at a dizzy rate.

the dizzy pace of our lives

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

My pulse kept racing; my mouth went dry and prickly; dizzy spells came on. —George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024

The 38-year-old ski mountaineer felt weak and dizzy. —Anna Callaghan, Outside Online, 23 Oct. 2024

Verb

The ones that will remain for now, according to The Verge: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend, Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls, You vs. Wild, and Bandersnatch, which pushed the format to dizzying complexity in 2019. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024

The player has so many options that the possibilities are dizzying at first and then inconsequential as the easiest solutions win out. —Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English disy, from Old English dysig stupid; akin to Old High German tusig stupid

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1501, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dizzy

adjective

diz·​zy

ˈdiz-ē

dizzier; dizziest

1

a

: having a feeling of whirling

b

: mentally confused

2

a

: causing or caused by a whirling sensation

dizzy heights

b

: extremely rapid

prices climbing at a dizzy rate

dizzily

ˈdiz-ə-lē

adverb

dizziness

ˈdiz-ē-nəs

noun

Medical Definition

dizzy

adjective

diz·​zy ˈdiz-ē 

dizzier; dizziest

1

: having a whirling sensation in the head with a tendency to fall

2

: mentally confused

dizzily

ˈdiz-ə-lē 

adverb