What does stunning mean?
Stunning is an adjective for something exceptionally beautiful, impressive, or remarkable. It is often used to praise a view, a performance, a design, or a person's appearance, as in “a stunning photograph” or “a stunning display of technique.” The word can also describe an event, discovery, or piece of news that is so unexpected or striking that people are momentarily amazed or speechless. Its strong emotional effect gives it a more dramatic and enthusiastic tone than words such as nice or attractive. Stunning can therefore be both flattering and attention-grabbing: it may celebrate beauty while also implying that the subject has an unusually powerful effect on the observer. In everyday use, it is especially common in descriptions of fashion, entertainment, nature, and artistic achievement.
Extremely attractive, impressive, or remarkable; so striking as to cause strong admiration.
"The dancers delivered a stunning performance that brought the audience to its feet."
Common in descriptions of appearance, scenery, performance, design, and artistic achievement.
So surprising or overwhelming that it leaves people momentarily shocked or speechless.
"The report revealed a stunning change in how the disease spreads."
This sense is established in formal and journalistic writing and often describes news, evidence, or events.
The word that describes a breathtaking sight can also describe the moment an unexpected fact leaves everyone speechless.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stunning come from?
Stunning was formed in the early 19th century by adding the present participle ending -ing to stun. The verb stun comes from an Old English word meaning to make senseless or overcome with force, reflecting the original sense of causing a blow or shock that leaves a person dazed. The modern adjective sense meaning exceptionally beautiful or impressive developed during the 19th century, while the sense meaning astonishing or overwhelming also became established. The root is shared with forms such as stun, stunned, and stunner.
Related word forms
How stunning is actually used
In modern usage, stunning is often complimentary when describing a person's appearance, a performance, or a landscape. Its older and still established sense of being extremely shocking or overwhelming is common in formal writing and journalism.
Easily confused with stunning
Stunning describes something so beautiful, impressive, or surprising that it amazes people, whereas stunned describes a person or thing left dazed or temporarily unable to react.