Shun Meaning
/ʃʌn/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo avoid, especially persistently; ostracize.
verbTo escape (a threatening evil, an unwelcome task etc).
Sentence Examples
Shun will take over my job while I'm away.
Please don’t shun me because I have this gift.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Because of his rude behavior, his former friends now ____ him and avoid his company.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He decided to ____ the spotlight and live a quiet, private life far away from the busy city streets.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English schonen (“to decline to do, avoid, fear”), from Old English sċunian (“to shun, fear, avoid”), of uncertain origin, though probably ultimately connected to the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)kewH- (“to cover, conceal”) via Proto-Germanic [Term?]; see that entry for more discussion. Compare hide, shy, and Sanskrit स्कुनाति (skunāti, “to cover”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins. Elsewhere in Europe, government contracts and subsidies ensure that press barons will only defy the mighty so far."
— 2013 August 10, Lexington, “Keeping the mighty honest”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Because of his rude behavior, his former friends now ____ him and avoid his company.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He decided to ____ the spotlight and live a quiet, private life far away from the busy city streets.