adj
Common
haunted
HAWN-tihd
Haunted (adj) means Said of a place, believed to be regularly visited by a ghost. Example: “Locals say the old inn is haunted by a woman in a grey dress.”
adj
1
Said of a place, believed to be regularly visited by a ghost.
"Locals say the old inn is haunted by a woman in a grey dress."
"The children dared each other to walk through the haunted house at night."
"They spent the night in a supposedly haunted castle."
2
Deeply troubled or preoccupied, as if by a persistent bad memory.
"The soldier's haunted eyes showed how much he still thought about the past."
"She had a haunted look after the accident and rarely spoke about it."
"He looked haunted after reading the letter."
How to use haunted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a place with ghosts, or a person visibly weighed down by something upsetting from the past.
Common pairings
haunted house
haunted look
haunted by the past
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more haunted
- Superlative
- most haunted, hauntedest
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Locals say the old inn is _____ by a woman in a grey dress.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for haunted
See all rhymes for haunted →Frequently asked questions
What does “haunted” mean?
The word “haunted” means said of a place, believed to be regularly visited by a ghost. In plain terms, either a place with ghosts, or a person visibly weighed down by something upsetting from the past.
How do you pronounce “haunted”?
“Haunted” is pronounced HAWN-tihd (/ˈhɔːntɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “haunted” in a sentence?
Here is “haunted” used in a sentence: “They spent the night in a supposedly haunted castle.”
What part of speech is “haunted”?
“Haunted” is an adjective.
Is “haunted” a common word?
“Haunted” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “haunted” have?
“Haunted” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: said of a place, believed to be regularly visited by a ghost.
What is the difference between haunted and spooky?
Haunted specifically means a place is believed to be regularly visited by a ghost, while spooky is a broader, more casual word for anything that feels eerie or frightening. A house can look spooky without anyone believing it is actually haunted.
Can a person be haunted rather than a place?
Yes; in its figurative sense, haunted describes a person who is deeply troubled or preoccupied, as if pursued by a persistent bad memory. This differs from the literal sense, in which a place is believed to be visited by a ghost.
What is the difference between haunted and possessed?
A haunted place or person is troubled or visited by a ghost or memory that lingers from outside, whereas possessed implies a spirit has taken control from within. Haunted suggests a lingering presence; possessed suggests active control.
What are common things described as haunted?
For places, common collocations include "haunted house," "haunted castle," and "haunted mansion." For the figurative sense, people speak of a "haunted look," "haunted eyes," or a "haunted expression" to describe visible inner distress.
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