noun
Common
stunt
stuhnt
Stunt (noun) means a dangerous or spectacular feat performed for entertainment, often in film. Example: “The car chase featured some incredible stunts.”
noun
1
A dangerous or spectacular feat performed for entertainment, often in film.
"The car chase featured some incredible stunts."
2
An attention-grabbing act done mainly for publicity.
"The whole announcement felt like a marketing stunt."
"The company climbed a tall building as a publicity stunt for its new game."
"Many people thought the stunt was just a way to get on the news."
verb
1
To stop or slow down the growth or development of something.
"Poor nutrition can stunt a child's growth."
"Lack of investment stunted the town's economic development."
How to use stunt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA daring feat performed for show, or (as a verb) to hold back someone's growth.
Common mistake
As a verb, "stunt" almost always takes a direct object about growth/development ("stunt growth"), not a person acting daringly — that's the noun sense instead.
Common pairings
publicity stunt
stunt growth
perform a stunt
stunt double
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Word forms
- Plural
- stunts
- Third person singular
- stunts
- Past tense
- stunted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The car chase featured some incredible _____.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; possibly related to an old Middle English word meaning "foolish" or a Middle Low German term for a wrestling throw.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for stunt
See all rhymes for stunt →Frequently asked questions
What does “stunt” mean?
The word “stunt” means a dangerous or spectacular feat performed for entertainment, often in film. In plain terms, a daring feat performed for show, or (as a verb) to hold back someone's growth.
How do you pronounce “stunt”?
“Stunt” is pronounced stuhnt (/stʌnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “stunt” in a sentence?
Here is “stunt” used in a sentence: “The car chase featured some incredible stunts.”
What part of speech is “stunt”?
Depending on how it is used, “stunt” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “stunt” come from?
The word “stunt” comes from Middle English. Origin uncertain; possibly related to an old Middle English word meaning "foolish" or a Middle Low German term for a wrestling throw.
Is “stunt” a common word?
“Stunt” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stunt” have?
“Stunt” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dangerous or spectacular feat performed for entertainment, often in film.
What is the difference between a stunt and a publicity stunt?
A stunt in general refers to a dangerous or spectacular feat performed for entertainment, often in film or live performance. A publicity stunt narrows that to an attention-grabbing act done mainly to generate media coverage or public interest, not necessarily involving danger.
How is 'stunt' used differently as a noun and a verb?
As a noun, a stunt is the spectacular or attention-grabbing act itself, as in 'a movie stunt.' As a verb, to stunt means to stop or slow down the growth or development of something, as in 'poor soil can stunt a plant's growth.'
What does it mean to say something 'stunts' growth?
When something is said to stunt growth, it means it holds back or slows the normal growth or development of a person, plant, or process, often implying a harmful or limiting effect.
