stunning
adjectiveverbnouncommon in dialogue
Having an effect that stuns.
adjective
- 1
Having an effect that stuns.
The stunning jolt from the taser gun made the criminal stop fleeing.
At length a univerſal hubbub wild, Of ſtunning ſounds and voices all confus'd, Borne through the hollow dark, aſſaults his ear
The ſtunning ſtroke his ſtubborn nerves unbound;
[W]e put off our burdens, and sat down rather dispirited, amidst a stunning noise made by the chirping of myriads of grasshoppers, and an abominable little creature that made a constant croaking "Caw, caw," producing a concert far from harmonious.
- 2
informalExceptionally beautiful or attractive.
That woman is stunning!
What if the very things you like in me now—you'd hate sometime. What if the things I think are strong and stunning in you now, I'd think were pig-headed and kickable after a while?
The line along the Northumbrian coast to Berwick and into Scotland is stunning (even on a Voyager!), and the weather is perfect - just sit back, relax, and enjoy the motion picture that plays beyond the window.
- 3
informalAmazing; wonderfully good.
The film was stunning.
So it was against the run of play that their London rivals took the lead two minutes before the interval through Drogba. He rolled William Gallas inside the area before flashing a stunning finish high past keeper Carlo Cudicini.
Etymology
From Middle English stunnyng, stunnynge, stounyng, equivalent to stun + -ing.
verb
- 1
Also a form of stunpresent participle and gerund of stun
noun
- 1
The act by which a person or animal is physically stunned.
He wished he had tens of thousands more troops under Andez's control so he could round up every one of these demonstrators. But it was futile to continue cracking down. The stunnings, beatings and arrests had only inflamed them further.
Etymology
From Middle English stunnyng, stonyng (also stoniynge, stonyynge), equivalent to stun + -ing.
Forms
- plural
- stunnings
- comparative
- more stunning
- superlative
- most stunning