giddy

[gid-ee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR giddy ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, gid·di·er, gid·di·est.

affected with vertigo; dizzy.

attended with or causing dizziness: a giddy climb.

frivolous and lighthearted; impulsive; flighty: a giddy young person.

verb (used with or without object), gid·died, gid·dy·ing.

to make or become giddy.

Nearby words

Origin of giddy

before 1000; Middle English gidy, Old English gidig mad (as variant of *gydig), derivative of god God, presumably orig. “possessed by a divine being”

SYNONYMS FOR giddy

1. lightheaded, vertiginous. 3. unstable, volatile, fickle, inconstant, vacillating.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR giddy ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsgid·di·ly, adverbgid·di·ness, nounun·gid·dy, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for giddiness

At first, there is pure joy and giddiness, because, yes, that is exactly what pleasure tastes like.
David Mitchell’s ‘The Bone Clocks’ Is Fun But Mostly Empty Calories|William O’Connor|September 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A giant, over-the-top mess of contradictions and giddiness and mistakes and something weirdly pure and divine.
How to Stomach a Hot Dog Eating Contest|Robert Silverman|July 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The collection was overtly rich but without the giddiness—and innocence—of youth.
Prada and Gucci Show Off Strong, Smart Sensuality at Milan Fall 2012 Fashion Shows|Robin Givhan|February 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And then you go beyond the giddiness and step back and try and look at things and see, do they all add up, does it all work?
India's Muckraker-in-Chief|Nisid Hajari|January 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST

As this dreadful possibility arose before his mind a faintness and giddiness came over him.
A Romance Of Tompkins Square|Thomas A. Janvier
And when meals were late, his breathing became difficult and he was seized with giddiness.
A Virgin Heart|Remy de Gourmont
They commence with giddiness, drowsiness, and stupor; then ensues insensibility.
Memoranda on Poisons|Thomas Hawkes Tanner
Now, thank the Gods, my labours are complete—she stands redeemed from all her giddiness!
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 98, February 1, 1890|Various
That is our character,' she added, laughing, with a return of the opera girl's giddiness and caprice.
A Prince of Bohemia|Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for giddiness

giddy

adjective -dier or -diest

affected with a reeling sensation and feeling as if about to fall; dizzy

causing or tending to cause vertigo

impulsive; scatterbrained

my giddy aunt an exclamation of surprise

verb -dies, -dying or -died

to make or become giddy

Derived Formsgiddily, adverbgiddiness, noun

Word Origin for giddy

Old English gydig mad, frenzied, possessed by God; related to God

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for giddiness

giddiness

late 13c., "thoughtless folly;" see giddy + -ness. Meaning "dizziness" is late 14c.

giddy

adj.

Old English gidig, variant of gydig "insane, mad, stupid, possessed (by a spirit)," probably from Proto-Germanic *gud-iga-, from *gudam "god" + *-ig "possessed." Meaning "having a confused, swimming sensation" is from 1560s. Meaning "elated" is from 1540s. Related: Giddily; giddiness.

giddy

adjective, gid·di·er, gid·di·est.

verb (used with or without object), gid·died, gid·dy·ing.

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Origin of giddy

Examples from the Web for giddiness

giddy

adjective -dier or -diest

verb -dies, -dying or -died

Word Origin for giddy

giddiness

giddy