stun
/stʌn/ (bre, ipa) · /stʌn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstən/ (ame, mw)
stun — verb
- stunpresent simple I / you / we / they
- stunshe / she / it
- stunnedpast simple
- stunning-ing form
1. to affect someone with sudden, extreme surprise that makes them unable to speak
to affect someone with sudden, extreme surprise that makes them unable to speak or react for a brief period; used when unexpected events overwhelm a person's ability to respond calmly.
The news of the factory closure stunned the entire town.
be stunned by: passive pattern for reactions
Min was stunned by the elaborate surprise party her colleagues had prepared.
It stunned me to discover that the library had been sold without any public discussion.
The announcement stunned the audience into a long, uncomfortable silence.
Niran stood stunned as the referee announced the final score of the match.
- astonish
less intense than stun; suggests causing wonder rather than mental paralysis
- shock
more general; can be positive or negative, while stun leans toward negative or overwhelming surprise
- dumbfound
emphasises speechlessness; slightly less common in everyday use
- stupefy
strongest of the set; suggests making someone unable to think at all; formal register
- prepare
when you prepare someone, the news cannot stun them because they already expect it
文法句型
be stunned by/at [something]
it stuns [someone] to [do something]
stun [someone] into [noun/gerund]
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive form (be stunned by/at). The pattern 'stun someone into + noun/gerund' expresses a resulting state, e.g., stunned into silence, stunned into inaction.
常見錯誤
2. to make a living being lose awareness or clear thought temporarily as a result o
to make a living being lose awareness or clear thought temporarily as a result of a physical impact — such as a hit on the head, a fall, or an electric shock — that leaves them dazed or unconscious.
A falling branch struck João on the head and stunned him for several seconds.
physical blow + temporal effect
The goalkeeper was stunned by a hard shot and had to leave the field.
passive + sports context
Omar used a stun gun to immobilise the aggressive dog without harming it permanently.
A powerful wave stunned the swimmer, leaving her dizzy and confused in the rough water.
- revive
to bring someone back to full consciousness after they have been stunned
文法句型
stun [someone/an animal] with/by [blow/weapon]
be stunned by [impact]
用法筆記
The object is almost always a living being. The blow can be literal (physical hit, fall, electric shock). For metaphorical dazing from noise or overload, sense 1 (SHOCK GREATLY) is more appropriate.
常見錯誤
stun — noun
1. a temporary state of mental confusion and shock, during which a person cannot th
a temporary state of mental confusion and shock, during which a person cannot think or speak normally after receiving very bad news or experiencing something extremely surprising.
A stun of disbelief spread through the courtroom after the judge read the sentence.
a stun of + emotion: countable pattern
Andrei looked at the eviction notice in a stun, unable to form a single word.
The sudden resignation of the director sent a stun through the whole department.
Evelyn sat in a stun for several minutes after hanging up the phone.
- shock
more common and general; covers physical, emotional, and electrical senses
- daze
suggests confusion more than surprise; often from a physical blow
- stupefaction
formal; implies total inability to think; very rare in speech
文法句型
in a stun
a stun of [emotion]
send a stun through
用法筆記
The noun is considerably less common than the verb; the adjective stunned is often preferred (e.g., 'She sat in stunned silence' instead of 'in a stun'). This noun appears mostly in writing, not casual speech.