# shun

> English word · Verb · IPA /ʃʌn/ · frequency rank #21,359

## Definitions
1. To avoid, especially persistently; ostracize.
2. To escape (a threatening evil, an unwelcome task etc).
3. To screen, hide.
4. To shove, push.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **su** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-su)
- **son** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-son)
- **sun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sun)
- **sub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sub)
- **sin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sin)
- **sum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sum)
- **sue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sue)
- **shy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-shy)
- **SUV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-suv)
- **sup** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sup)
- **Stu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-stu)
- **Sus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sus)
- **Sui** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sui)
- **syn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-syn)
- **suh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-suh)
- **Sul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sul)
- **Siu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-siu)
- **sou** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sou)
- **SSN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-ssn)
- **sud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shun-vs-sud)

## Common misspellings (6)
`hsun`, `shhun`, `shnu`, `shunn`, `sshun`, `suhn`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shun