stun — to shock or surprise someone so much that they cannot react immediately
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to shock or surprise someone so much that they cannot react immediately
Pronunciation (IPA): /stʌn/
Example Sentences
- The magician's final trick was so amazing that it stunned the entire audience into complete silence.
- My grandmother was stunned when she accidentally video-called her cat instead of me.
- The lightning strike stunned the tree, leaving it completely bare overnight.
stun
VERB[/stʌn/]
to shock or surprise someone so much that they cannot react immediately

a chemistry student stares wide-eyed at a beaker that just produced a massive, colorful chemical reaction. The student's mouth hangs open and their body is frozen in place from the unexpected explosion of colors. The dramatic reaction sends bright sparks and colorful smoke billowing upward much larger than anticipated. The student cannot move or speak, completely paralyzed by the shocking result. Other students in the background also stand motionless with expressions of amazement. The professor nearby points excitedly at the successful but surprising experiment. someone being stunned into complete stillness by an overwhelming surprise
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'stunen', originally meaning 'to make a loud noise like thunder', which evolved to mean 'to shock or daze someone'.
Breakdown
stun- (root meaning 'thunder/loud noise' from Old French 'estoner')
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The magician's final trick was so amazing that it stunned the entire audience into complete silence.”
“My grandmother was stunned when she accidentally video-called her cat instead of me.”
“The lightning strike stunned the tree, leaving it completely bare overnight.”
“I was stunned to discover that my 'antique' vase was actually from a dollar store.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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