haunt
hawnt
Haunt (verb) means of a ghost or spirit, to appear regularly in a particular place. Example: “Locals say the old manor is haunted by a grey lady.”
verb
1
Of a ghost or spirit, to appear regularly in a particular place.
"Locals say the old manor is haunted by a grey lady."
2
To trouble or prey on someone's mind persistently.
"The memory of that night still haunts him."
"Guilt haunted her for years after the accident."
noun
1
A place someone visits often; a regular hangout.
"This little cafe used to be one of our old haunts."
How to use haunt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a ghost repeatedly appearing somewhere, or a bad memory that keeps coming back to trouble you.
Common pairings
haunted by
old haunt
haunt someone's dreams
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like haunt.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- haunts
- Third person singular
- haunts
- Past tense
- haunted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Locals say the old manor is _____ by a grey lady.
Etymology
From Old French hanter, "to frequent or visit regularly" — the ghost sense grew out of the idea of returning again and again to the same place.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for haunt
See all rhymes for haunt →Frequently asked questions
What does “haunt” mean?
The word “haunt” means of a ghost or spirit, to appear regularly in a particular place. In plain terms, either a ghost repeatedly appearing somewhere, or a bad memory that keeps coming back to trouble you.
How do you pronounce “haunt”?
“Haunt” is pronounced hawnt (/hɔnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “haunt” in a sentence?
Here is “haunt” used in a sentence: “Locals say the old manor is haunted by a grey lady.”
What is another word for “haunt”?
Words with a similar meaning to “haunt” include dwell.
What part of speech is “haunt”?
Depending on how it is used, “haunt” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “haunt” come from?
The word “haunt” comes from Old French. From Old French hanter, "to frequent or visit regularly" — the ghost sense grew out of the idea of returning again and again to the same place.
Is “haunt” a common word?
“Haunt” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “haunt” have?
“Haunt” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of a ghost or spirit, to appear regularly in a particular place.
What is the difference between haunt and possess?
To haunt is for a ghost or troubling memory to appear or recur repeatedly in a place or mind, while to possess means to take over a body or object entirely. A haunted house has ghostly presences that come and go, whereas a possessed person is controlled from within.
Can haunt be used for feelings and memories, not just ghosts?
Yes, haunt is commonly used figuratively to describe a memory, regret, or image that troubles someone's mind persistently, as in 'the image haunted her for years.' This non-supernatural use is just as common as the literal ghost sense.
What does it mean to call a place your haunt?
As a noun, a haunt is a place someone visits often, like a favourite café or bar described as an 'old haunt.' This sense has nothing to do with ghosts and simply refers to a regular hangout.
