ghost
Ghost (noun) means the soul of a dead person believed to appear to or haunt the living. Example: “She swore she saw a ghost drifting through the old hallway.”
How to use ghost
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often the spirit of a dead person said to linger and appear to the living; in modern slang, to vanish from someone's life by cutting off contact with no warning.
The dating slang sense ("he ghosted me") is very recent — don't assume it applies in older texts, where "ghost" almost always means a spirit or apparition.
Word forms
ghosted past tense, ghosts singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She swore she saw a _____ drifting through the old hallway.
Etymology
From Old English gast, meaning breath, spirit, or soul — the same root behind "Holy Ghost." The silent "h" crept into the spelling in the late 1400s, likely from printers influenced by Dutch. The "stop replying without explanation" sense only became common in the 2010s.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ghost
See all rhymes for ghost →Frequently asked questions
What does “ghost” mean?
The word “ghost” means the soul of a dead person believed to appear to or haunt the living. In plain terms, most often the spirit of a dead person said to linger and appear to the living; in modern slang, to vanish from someone's life by cutting off contact with no warning.
How do you pronounce “ghost”?
“Ghost” is pronounced gohst (/ɡoʊst/ in IPA).
How do you use “ghost” in a sentence?
Here is “ghost” used in a sentence: “She swore she saw a ghost drifting through the old hallway.”
What part of speech is “ghost”?
Depending on how it is used, “ghost” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “ghost” come from?
The word “ghost” dates back to around 1400 and comes from Old English.
Is “ghost” a common word?
“Ghost” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “ghost” have?
“Ghost” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the soul of a dead person believed to appear to or haunt the living.
What is the difference between a ghost and a spirit?
The words overlap, but 'ghost' usually refers to the visible form of a dead person appearing to the living, often tied to a specific place it haunts. 'Spirit' is broader — the soul or non-physical essence of any being, which may or may not appear. Every ghost is a spirit, but not every spirit is a ghost.
What are the different types of ghosts?
Folklore describes many kinds. A poltergeist is a noisy ghost said to move objects; an apparition is a silent, visible figure; a wraith is a ghostly double of a living or dying person; and a shade or specter is a shadowy presence. Beliefs vary widely across cultures.
Where does the idea of ghosts come from?
Belief in ghosts appears in almost every culture and dates back thousands of years. It grows from the idea that some part of a person survives death, and from attempts to explain unexplained sounds, sightings, or feelings. Ghost stories also serve as warnings, memorials, and popular entertainment.
What is the difference between a ghost and a ghoul?
A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person that lingers among the living. A ghoul is different — in folklore it is a flesh-eating monster or evil creature associated with graveyards and the dead, not the spirit of a specific person. Ghouls are creatures; ghosts are souls.
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