Stung
/stʌŋ/
verbB1past tense, past participle
Definition
Stung is the past form of sting. It means that something sharp, like an insect’s stinger, has caused a sudden pain or hurt by piercing the skin. It can also describe feeling emotional pain, like when someone’s words hurt your feelings.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Physical pain caused by a sharp bite or prick
- •I was stung by a bee while walking in the garden.
- •She got stung on the arm by a wasp.
- •The jellyfish stung him at the beach.
Emotional hurt or upset caused by words or actions
- •He was stung by her harsh criticism.
- •She felt stung when her friends ignored her.
- •The team's loss stung the players deeply.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "stung" like "hurt" (A1 word), but the pain is quick and sharp, like a small needle prick.
- ✓Picture a bee landing on your skin and quickly poking you with its tiny sharp tail.
- ✓It's the sudden, sharp feeling you get when you accidentally touch a thorn or get a small insect bite.
- ✓Sounds like "stung" → imagine a strong "sting" that leaves a quick, sharp mark.
- ✓Think of the story of "The bee sting" where the sting causes sudden pain but usually heals quickly.
- ✓NOT like "cut" (which can be a longer, open wound), "stung" is a quick, sharp pain from a small point.
- ✓NOT like "bruise" (which is slow pain and swelling), "stung" is immediate and sharp.
- ✓NOT like "scratch" (which is surface damage), "stung" usually means a sharp point entered the skin.
Try Other Words
- •Bitten: pain caused by an animal’s teeth (Use when the pain is caused by a bite, not a sting)
- •Pricked: a small sharp pain like from a needle (Use when the pain comes from a sharp point but not necessarily an insect)
- •Injured: general harm or damage (Use when the pain or damage is more serious or general)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: Base verb "sting" + past tense suffix "-ed" (irregular form changes to "stung")
- •Etymology: Old English "stingan" meaning to pierce or prick
- •Historical development: Used since old times to describe sharp pain caused by animals or objects
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe insect bites or emotional pain caused by words or events
- •Note: "Stung" is an irregular past form, not following the usual "-ed" pattern
Reflect & Connect
•Can something "sting" without causing physical pain? How does this change the meaning?
•How do you react when you feel stung emotionally compared to physically?
Fill in the blanks
1.I was ___ by a bee, so my arm ___ red and sore.
2.When she heard the bad news, she felt ___ deeply by the words.
3.Unlike a bite, being ___ usually means a quick, sharp pain from a small point.
4.He tried to ignore the insult, but it still ___ him more than he expected.
5.The jellyfish ___ caused a burning sensation that lasted for hours.
6.People often say "___ and run" to describe a quick painful action followed by escape.
7.After being ___, it’s important to clean the area to prevent infection.