The act by which a person or animal is physically stunned.
"The heavy blow to his head left him in a state of stunning before he even hit the ground."
In plain English: A stunning is not actually used as a noun; it is only an adjective meaning something so impressive that you are shocked or amazed by it.
"The stunning was so loud that everyone in the room turned to look at her face."
present participle of stun
"The loud noise was stunning, leaving him dazed and unable to move."
In plain English: To stun someone means to shock them so much that they become unable to move or think clearly for a moment.
"The sudden news stunned everyone in the room with its shocking reveal."
commanding attention
"an arresting drawing of people turning into animals"
"a sensational concert--one never to be forgotten"
"a stunning performance"
causing great astonishment and consternation
"the strike came as a stunning protest against management"
"a stunning defeat"
causing or capable of causing bewilderment or shock or insensibility
"laid the poor fellow senseless with one stunning blow"
"a stunning detonation with volumes of black smoke"
strikingly beautiful or attractive
"quite stunning with large dark eyes and a beautiful high-bosomed figure"
"stunning photographs of Canada's wilderness areas"
Having an effect that stuns.
"The sudden flash of lightning was stunning, leaving everyone frozen in fear."
In plain English: Stunning means something so amazing it leaves you breathless and speechless.
"The stunning view from the mountain top made everyone stop and take photos."
Usage: Use stunning as an adjective to describe something so impressive it leaves people breathless, such as a breathtaking view or a remarkable performance. Avoid confusing this with the noun form "stunning," which refers specifically to the act of rendering someone unconscious through physical force.
The word stunning comes from the Middle English form stunnen, which originally meant "to strike or knock." It entered modern usage as a present participle describing something that delivers such a blow that it causes shock or amazement.