# stunned

/ˈstənd/ (US) · /stˈʌnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stunned
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. shocked or surprised

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling very shocked or surprised by something unexpected.

For teachers: experiencing a state of intense shock, disbelief, or amazement that often precludes immediate reaction.

- The crowd sat in stunned silence after the underdog team scored in the final minute.
- The shareholders were left stunned by the CEO's sudden resignation, as there had been no prior indication of internal conflict within the board.

## Examples

- She was stunned when she won the first prize.
- The audience sat in stunned silence as the final scene of the play unfolded.
- 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.

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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.