ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stunned

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈstənd// UK //stˈʌnd// stunned

v. very shocked or surprised, usually so much that you cannot speak or react immediately.

v. extremely shocked, surprised, or overwhelmed, often resulting in a temporary inability to react or speak.


SIMPLE

She was stunned when she won the first prize.

CONTEXTUAL

The audience sat in stunned silence as the final scene of the play unfolded.

COMPLEX

The community was left stunned by the sudden announcement, as no one had anticipated such a drastic shift in local policy after years of stability.

Synonyms
Origin

From stun + -ed.

Usage

Often follows linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'look'.

© 2026 English Reference