Haunted
/ˈhɔːntɪd/
Definitions
3 meaningsInfested or frequently visited by ghosts; perturbed or distressed.
/ˈhɔːntɪd/
Visited or frequented by ghosts or other supernatural beings.
The abandoned mansion was said to be haunted by the ghosts of its former residents.
💡 Simply: Imagine a place, like an old house, where ghosts are always hanging around. It's like the ghosts never leave! Or, imagine someone who can't stop thinking about something sad or scary, they're 'haunted' by it.
👶 For kids: When a place has ghosts in it, we say it is haunted!
More Examples
She had a haunted look on her face after the accident.
The haunted forest was a popular destination during Halloween.
How It's Used
"The old house was rumored to be haunted."
"The novel depicted a haunted castle with shadowy figures."
Troubled or tormented by an unpleasant thought, memory, or feeling.
/ˈhɔːntɪd/
Troubled persistently by a distressing memory or feeling.
The soldier was haunted by the horrors of war.
💡 Simply: Imagine something sad or upsetting that you can't stop thinking about. It's like that thought 'haunts' you, popping up in your mind over and over.
👶 For kids: When you can't stop thinking about something sad or scary, like a bad dream, you are haunted!
More Examples
The artist was haunted by the loss of his muse.
She felt haunted by the feeling of regret.
How It's Used
"He was haunted by the memory of his mistake."
"She's haunted by the loss of her pet."
To visit or inhabit as a ghost
/ˈhɔːntɪd/
Visited frequently by ghosts or other supernatural beings.
The ghost haunted the castle for centuries.
💡 Simply: When a ghost is always hanging around a place.
👶 For kids: When a ghost goes to the same place a lot!
How It's Used
"The old house haunted the town's imagination."
Idioms & expressions
a haunted look
An expression on someone's face that shows they are troubled or distressed.
"After the accident, she had a haunted look in her eyes."
haunted by
Troubled or constantly reminded of something upsetting.
"He was haunted by the mistakes he made."
From Middle English *haunten, frequentative of haunten 'to frequent, visit regularly', from Old French hanter, from *hamber, from Germanic (compare Old Norse heimta 'to fetch home'). The sense of being troubled or visited by ghosts developed later.
The term has been used since the 14th century, initially relating to places frequented by people, evolving to the current meaning of being visited by spirits or troubled by memories.
Memory tip
Think of a house where ghosts are always present, or a person who is always distressed by something.
Word Origin
"to frequent"