dizzy /ˈdɪzi/

Origin

From Old English dysig meaning "foolish, stupid," later evolved to mean "having a sensation of spinning"

Meanings

1. Having a sensation of spinning or whirling; feeling unsteady or unbalanced

   • "She felt dizzy after spinning around in circles."
   • "The high altitude made the climbers dizzy."

2. Causing a sensation of vertigo or confusion

   • "The dizzy heights of the skyscraper made him nervous."

3. Silly, scatterbrained, or frivolous (informal)

   • "His dizzy girlfriend kept forgetting her keys."

Word Forms

• Adjective: dizzy
• Adverb: dizzily
• Noun: dizziness
• Verb: to dizzy (less common)

Synonyms

• giddy
• lightheaded
• vertiginous
• woozy
• disoriented
• unsteady

Common Collocations

• dizzy spell
• dizzy heights
• feel/get dizzy
• make someone dizzy

Memory Tricks

1. Think of "dizzy" as containing the word "dizz" which sounds like the whizzing sensation you feel when spinning
2. Associate with Disney - if you spin too many times on Disney rides, you'll get dizzy
3. Remember the phrase "dizzy blonde" - connecting the silly/scatterbrained meaning

Related Medical Terms

• vertigo
• dizziness
• disequilibrium