After reading a 3D (three dimensional) NAND array, the wordlines of the 3D NAND array can be transitioned to ground in a staggered manner. The 3D NAND array includes a 3D stack with multiple wordlines vertically stacked, including a bottom-most wordline, a top-most wordline, and middle wordlines between the bottom-most wordline and the top-most wordline. A controller that controls the reading can set the multiple wordlines to a read voltage for reading operations and then transition a selected wordline of the multiple wordlines from the read voltage to ground prior to transitioning the other wordlines to ground. Thus, the controller will transition the other wordlines from the read voltage to ground after a delay.