giddy

/ˈgɪdi/

/ˈgɪdi/

Other forms: giddiest; giddier; giddied

If you've ever spun in circles until you fell to the ground laughing, you know how it feels to be giddy. This adjective can mean dizzy, elated, or — as in the spinning around example — a lightheaded, lighthearted combination of the two.

The hackneyed phrase "giddy as a schoolgirl" calls forth the image of a kid giggling with her friends over some adolescent foolishness. Giddy has been used to describe someone incapable of serious thought or easily excited as far back as the 16th century. Given that, in modern usage, giddy describes someone silly and frivolous, it's interesting to know that the Old English source for this word has a slightly darker tinge: gidig means "insane" or "god-possessed."

Definitions of giddy

1. adjective

   lacking seriousness; given to frivolity
   synonyms: airheaded, dizzy, empty-headed, featherbrained, light-headed, lightheaded, silly

   frivolous

   not serious in content or attitude or behavior
2. adjective

   having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
   “had a headache and felt giddy”

   “a giddy precipice”

   synonyms: dizzy, vertiginous, woozy

   ill, sick

   affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
3. adjective

   exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits
   synonyms: elated

   exultant, exulting, jubilant, prideful, rejoicing, triumphal, triumphant

   joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success

   exhilarated, gladdened

   made joyful

   high, in high spirits

   happy and excited and energetic

   sublime

   lifted up or set high

   uplifted

   exalted emotionally especially with pride

   euphoric

   characterized by an exaggerated feeling of well-being or elation

   happy

   enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

   joyous

   full of or characterized by joy