stunning
gb/stˈʌnɪŋ/ us/stˈʌnɪŋ/
B1
English
~ 7100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
extremely beautiful or impressive
Very, very beautiful or amazing to see or experience.
Usage pattern:
[someone]/[something] is/looks stunning
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "stunning" only for people, but it is also very common for places, clothes, performances, and other things (e.g., "a stunning view", "a stunning design"). Another mistake is saying *"very stunning"; native speakers usually say "absolutely/quite/really stunning" instead.
Synonyms
gorgeous (Very common for people and clothes; a bit warmer and more personal.)
|
breathtaking (Emphasizes the impact on your feelings, often for views or experiences.)
|
spectacular (Sounds slightly more formal and is often used for shows, events, and scenes.)
Antonyms
ugly (Direct opposite when talking about physical appearance.)
|
unimpressive (Opposite when talking about general effect or quality, not just beauty.)
Collocations
look stunning
|absolutely stunning
|stunning view
|stunning scenery
|stunning dress
|stunning performance
Themes
appearance
|emotions
|art
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- You look absolutely stunning in that dress.
- The view from the top of the mountain was simply stunning.
- The dancers gave a stunning performance that left the audience speechless.
- The gallery was full of stunning photographs from around the world.
- Their new home has a stunning kitchen with huge windows and marble counters.
Learner examples
- She looks stunning in that red dress.
- The beach is stunning at sunset.
- We saw a stunning show last night.
- His painting is small but stunning.
- The hotel lobby was clean and stunning.
adjective
B2
property
2
extremely surprising or shocking
Very surprising or shocking and often hard to believe.
Usage pattern:
a stunning [result/news/revelation/defeat]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the "very beautiful" meaning and describe people as "stunning" when they really want to say that the person is shocked (which would be "stunned"). For example, "She was stunning by the news" is wrong; it should be "She was stunned by the news" for the surprised feeling, or "She was stunning" for appearance.
Synonyms
shocking (Often stronger for negative situations; more focused on disturbance or upset.)
|
astonishing (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and not always emotional.)
|
startling (Adds a feeling of being suddenly surprised or alarmed.)
Antonyms
unsurprising (Describes results or news that do not surprise anyone.)
|
predictable (Opposite in the sense that it is expected rather than surprising.)
Collocations
stunning revelation
|stunning announcement
|stunning news
|stunning defeat
|stunning victory
|stunning upset
Themes
emotions
|news_media
|sports
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The president made a stunning announcement that he would resign immediately.
- Scientists have made a stunning discovery about the origins of the virus.
- Their team’s stunning defeat shocked fans around the world.
- The report contained the stunning revelation that data had been secretly deleted.
- In a stunning upset, the underdogs beat the defending champions by three goals.
Learner examples
- The news was stunning for everyone at the office.
- It was a stunning defeat for the home team.
- The teacher’s decision to leave was stunning to the students.
- The movie ends with a stunning twist.
- Her sudden move to another country was stunning to her family.
unknown
C1
property
3
causing someone to be dazed or unconscious
Making a person weak, confused, or knocked out for a short time, usually by a hit or strong force.
Usage pattern:
a stunning [blow/punch/impact]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix this meaning with the emotional uses and think "stunning" always means "very beautiful" or "very surprising." In safety or sports contexts, a "stunning blow" is physical, not emotional. Also, some learners confuse "stunning" with the noun "stun gun" and treat it as a noun; here it is an adjective describing the effect.
Synonyms
dazing (Focuses on making someone feel confused or dizzy rather than fully unconscious.)
|
knockout (Common in boxing; often stronger, suggesting complete loss of consciousness.)
Antonyms
gentle (A blow that is gentle does not cause confusion or unconsciousness.)
|
harmless (Suggests that the force does not injure or seriously affect the person.)
Collocations
stunning blow
|stunning punch
|stunning impact
|stunning force
Themes
health
|sports
|safety
|body
Examples
- He collapsed after taking a stunning blow to the head.
- The boxer recovered quickly from the stunning punch in the second round.
- The explosion sent out a stunning shock wave that knocked people off their feet.
- Workers must wear helmets to protect them from any stunning impact from falling objects.
- The stun gun delivers a stunning electric charge that can disable an attacker for several seconds.
Learner examples
- The player fell after a stunning blow to his jaw.
- The car crash created a stunning impact on the wall.
- The fighter stood up again after a stunning punch.
- He wore a helmet to avoid a stunning hit on the head.
- The device gives a stunning electric shock.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stunning
IPA
GB/stˈʌnɪŋ/
US/stˈʌnɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
stun - ning (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (stun)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: stunning
Word family
Core family
Related words
stunner
noun
Expressions
absolutely stunning
1/ˌæbsəlˈutli stˈʌnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
completely and extremely stunning
Used to say that something is stunning in a very strong way.
Examples
- The view from our hotel room was absolutely stunning.
- Her performance in the play was absolutely stunning.
- The photos from their trip are absolutely stunning.
look stunning
1/lˈʊk stˈʌnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
appear very beautiful or impressive
To seem very beautiful or amazing when someone sees you or it.
Examples
- You look stunning in that suit tonight.
- The city looks stunning when all the lights come on.
- She looked stunning on her wedding day.
stunning defeat
1/stˈʌnɪŋ dɪfˈit/
fixed phrase
very surprising or heavy loss
A loss that surprises people a lot or is very heavy.
Examples
- The team suffered a stunning defeat in the final.
- It was a stunning defeat for the government.
- Fans were silent after the club’s stunning defeat at home.
stunning silence
1/stˈʌnɪŋ sˈaɪləns/
idiom
complete and surprising silence
A strong and complete silence that feels strange, heavy, or surprising.
Examples
- Her comment was met with stunning silence from the audience.
- There was a moment of stunning silence after the accident.
- His joke was followed by a stunning silence that made him blush.
stunning victory
1/stˈʌnɪŋ vˈɪktɚi/
fixed phrase
very surprising or impressive win
A win that surprises people a lot or is very impressive.
Examples
- The underdogs claimed a stunning victory over the world champions.
- It was a stunning victory that no one had predicted.
- The party won a stunning victory in the election.
stunning view
1/stˈʌnɪŋ vjˈu/
fixed phrase
very beautiful scene or landscape
A very beautiful scene that you can see from a place.
Examples
- Our room has a stunning view of the ocean.
- From the hilltop there is a stunning view of the whole city.
- They bought the house mainly for its stunning view of the valley.