haunted

American  

[hawn-tid, hahn-] / ˈhɔn tɪd, ˈhɑn- /

adjective

1. inhabited or frequented by ghosts.

   a haunted castle.

2. preoccupied, as with an emotion, memory, or idea; obsessed.

   His haunted imagination gave him no peace.

3. disturbed; distressed; worried.

   Haunted by doubt he again turned to law books on the subject.

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haunted British  

/ ˈhɔːntɪd /

adjective

1. frequented or visited by ghosts

2. (postpositive) obsessed or worried

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Other Word Forms

• unhaunted adjective

Etymology

Origin of haunted

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; haunt, -ed ²

Explanation

Something that's haunted seems to have ghosts. Visiting a scary haunted house is a great, if terrifying, way to spend Halloween night. Ghosts, or spooky apparitions, are what makes a place haunted. You might truly believe your grandparents' house is haunted, or it might just seem that way because of the scary creaks and groans in the night, the cobwebs in dark corners, and the dim lighting. You can also describe a person as haunted when she's obsessed with or tormented by something: "I was haunted by the memory of my cat killing that poor mouse."

Example Sentences

When I was growing up, the Cuba I heard about in stories was akin to a floating haunted house.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

They stay in a rambling Victorian house in the Garden District and record in a studio that’s haunted.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

But perhaps the best thing to come of the record was that Blake was able to “solve some riddles” that had haunted him for quite some time.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

But Newcastle soon found themselves 3-1 down after chief tormentor Omar Marmoush haunted them once again.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

I'm not sure what haunted means, but I don't ask, because I'm sure it's nothing good from the way she says it.

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman

Related Words

• obsessed