Library / English Dictionary

STUN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: stunned    , stunning   

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make senseless or dizzy by or as if by a blow

Example:

stun fish

Synonyms:

stun; stupefy

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "stun" is one way to...):

immobilise; immobilize (cause to be unable to move)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Hit something or somebody as if with a sandbag

Synonyms:

sandbag; stun

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "stun" is one way to...):

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to stun his opponent

Sense 3

Meaning:

Overcome as with astonishment or disbelief

Example:

The news stunned her

Synonyms:

bedaze; daze; stun

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "stun" is one way to...):

desensitise; desensitize (cause not to be sensitive)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

stunner (a very attractive or seductive looking woman)

Credits

 Context examples: 

I was still giddy with the shock of my mother's death, and in a kind of stunned state as to all tributary things.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"The clarity in this trend is stunning, but we don’t yet know whether the new reefs can support the incredible diversity of tropical systems."

(Coral reefs shifting away from equatorial waters, National Science Foundation)

"A stunning blow from the big Greek lexicon, which an old fellow in a black gown fired at him," said Ned.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It struck poor Tom, point foremost, and with stunning violence, right between the shoulders in the middle of his back.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The survey exceeded all expectations and imaged the depression in stunning detail: a distinctly circular rim, central uplift, disturbed and undisturbed ice layering, and basal debris.

(Unexpected Discovery Under Greenland Ice, NASA)

On this day, Mars and Uranus will cook up some stunning surprises, for Mars will be trine Uranus, the most harmonious aspect possible between two planets.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I was myself half stunned and looked in wonder at one after another.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The feeling, the announcement sent through me, was something stronger than was consistent with joy—something that smote and stunned.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The stunning announcement comes with plenty of caveats.

(ESO Discovers Earth-Size Planet in Habitable Zone of Nearest Star, NASA)

Burley lay senseless, stunned by a blow from a mace, and half of the men-at-arms lay littered upon the ground around him.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)