aghast
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of aghast
1225–75; Middle English agast frightened, past participle of agasten, equivalent to a- a- 3 + gasten, Old English gǣstan to frighten, earlier *gāstjan < Germanic causative *gaistjan; ghost
Explanation
Would you be aghast, or shocked, to find out that your friends believe in ghosts, or would you share their frightened, or aghast, looks when a floating white being hovers over the campfire? Aghast comes from Old English gasten, "frighten," which comes in turn from gāst, "ghost." If you've seen a look of absolute shock or terror on someone's face — like when your mom (or dad) sees a mouse — you can describe the look with the adjective aghast. If someone says "You should have seen the look on your face!" after sneaking up on you, you probably looked aghast yourself. "Boo!"
Vocabulary lists containing aghast
The Outsiders
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"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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"Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At a gas station in Washington's suburbs, Jeanne Williams, 83, was aghast at the higher prices.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
When Barbara Walters started interviewing celebrities on her prime time specials for ABC in the 1970s, pearl-clutching journalistic purists were aghast.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026
Cottrill said he had sculpted the 79-year-old Republican leader's "turkey neck" but the crypto backers were aghast and asked for a more flattering, less realistic look.
From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026
Ms. Ypi, aghast at the “caricature” of her grandmother that was “emerging here,” resolved to get to the truth about Leman.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 30, 2025
“Did that just call us tailors?” asked Winter, aghast.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
