ghostly
GOHST-lee
Ghostly (adjective) means resembling or suggestive of a ghost; eerie and pale. Example: “A ghostly figure seemed to glide across the misty field.”
adjective
1
Resembling or suggestive of a ghost; eerie and pale.
"A ghostly figure seemed to glide across the misty field."
"The abandoned house had a ghostly silence about it."
How to use ghostly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving the eerie, pale, ghost-like quality of something spectral or haunting.
Common pairings
a ghostly glow
ghostly figure
ghostly silence
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Word forms
- Comparative
- ghostlier
- Superlative
- ghostliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ figure seemed to glide across the misty field.
Etymology
From Old English gastlic, "spiritual" — built from ghost plus the suffix -ly. It originally meant spiritual or holy before narrowing to its modern "spooky, spectral" sense.
Synonyms
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apparitional
ghastly
ghostish
ghostlike
phantomic
phantomlike
phantasmal
phantasmic
spectral
spooky
wraithlike
wraithy
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ghostly
See all rhymes for ghostly →Frequently asked questions
What does “ghostly” mean?
The word “ghostly” means resembling or suggestive of a ghost; eerie and pale. In plain terms, having the eerie, pale, ghost-like quality of something spectral or haunting.
How do you pronounce “ghostly”?
“Ghostly” is pronounced GOHST-lee (/ˈɡoʊstli/ in IPA).
How do you use “ghostly” in a sentence?
Here is “ghostly” used in a sentence: “A ghostly figure seemed to glide across the misty field.”
What is another word for “ghostly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ghostly” include apparitional, ghastly, ghostish, ghostlike, phantomic and phantomlike.
What part of speech is “ghostly”?
“Ghostly” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ghostly” come from?
The word “ghostly” comes from Old English. From Old English gastlic, "spiritual" — built from ghost plus the suffix -ly. It originally meant spiritual or holy before narrowing to its modern "spooky, spectral" sense.
Is “ghostly” a common word?
“Ghostly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
