stun

UK: /ˈstʌn/ US: /stʌn/ ,(stun)

Inflections of 'stun' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

stuns

v 3rd person singular

stunning

v pres p

stunned

v past

stunned

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

stun /stʌn/   v. [~ + object] , stunned, stun•ning. 

1. to cause (someone) to lose consciousness, feeling, or strength by or as if by a blow, fall, etc.:
   He was stunned by a wicked blow to the head.
2. to astonish;
   astound;
   amaze:
   We were completely stunned by her hostile reaction.
3. to shock;
   overwhelm:
   We were stunned to hear of his sudden death.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

stun (stun),  v., stunned, stun•ning, n. 

v.t. 

1. to deprive of consciousness or strength by or as if by a blow, fall, etc.:
   The blow to his jaw stunned him for a moment.
2. to astonish;
   astound;
   amaze:
   Her wit stunned the audience.
3. to shock;
   overwhelm:
   The world was stunned by the attempted assassination.
4. to daze or bewilder by noise.

n. 

5. the act of stunning.
6. the condition of being stunned.

• Old French estoner to shake, make resound; see astonish
• Middle English stonen, stunen (verb, verbal) 1250–1300

Synonyms

• 2, 3. See shock ¹.
• 4. stupefy.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stun / stʌn/ verb (stuns, stunning, stunned)(transitive)

1. to render unconscious, as by a heavy blow or fall
2. to shock or overwhelm
3. to surprise or astound

noun

1. the state or effect of being stunned

Etymology: 13th Century stunen, from Old French estoner to daze, stupefy, from Vulgar Latin extonāre (unattested), from Latin ex-¹ + tonāre to thunder