# stun

/ˈstən/ (US) · /stˈʌn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stun
Updated: 2026-04-26

## Definition

to surprise or shock someone so much that they can't think or move for a short time. It can be from something you see, hear, or learn.

For teachers: to make someone temporarily unconscious or unable to react, either through a physical blow or profound emotional shock. It implies a momentary loss of faculties.

## Examples

- The news of her promotion stuns her.
- The magician's final trick was so incredible that it stunned the entire audience into silence.
- The sheer audacity of the proposal stunned the board members, leaving them momentarily speechless as they tried to process its implications.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I was stunning when I heard the news." but "I was stunned when I heard the news." — Learners may confuse the adjective 'stunned' (feeling shocked) with 'stunning' (very beautiful or impressive).

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and always takes a direct object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.