Woozy means feeling dizzy, unsteady, or lightheaded, like the world is tilting slightly or your head is full of cotton. You might feel woozy after spinning in circles on the playground, or after standing up too quickly from lying down. Some people feel woozy when they're sick with a fever, or when they haven't eaten in a long time.

The feeling combines dizziness with a kind of weakness or confusion. When you're woozy, you might need to sit down, hold onto something for balance, or close your eyes until the sensation passes.

The word itself sounds a bit like how the feeling seems: wobbly, uncertain, not quite right. You might hear someone say, “That carnival ride made me feel woozy,” or “I felt woozy after bumping my head.” The feeling usually goes away after resting, drinking water, or eating something, but if someone feels very woozy or it doesn't go away, they should tell a trusted adult and can talk to a doctor or nurse.