# ghost

/ˈɡoʊst/ (US) · /ɡˈəʊst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ghost
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. spirit of a dead person

noun · CEFR A2

the spirit of a person who has died, which some people believe can be seen or heard.

For teachers: the disembodied soul or spirit of a deceased person, typically appearing as a visible apparition.

- The old castle is famous because people say they have seen a ghost in the tower.
- Local folklore suggests that the ghost of the former countess still wanders the corridors, searching for her lost letters.

### 2. a faint trace

noun · CEFR B2

a very slight amount or a faint image of something.

For teachers: a slight trace, shadowy semblance, or faint secondary image, such as a reflection in a lens.

- There was just a ghost of a smile on his face when he heard the news.
- The old photograph was so damaged that only a ghost of the original landscape remained visible under the light.

### 3. to stop communicating

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal · Slang

to suddenly stop all communication with someone you were dating or talking to, without any explanation.

For teachers: to abruptly terminate all communication with a person, particularly in a romantic context, without prior warning or justification.

- I thought our date went well, but then he ghosted me and never replied to my texts.
- In the era of digital dating, it has become increasingly common for individuals to ghost their partners rather than engage in a difficult conversation about ending the relationship.

### 5. empty or abandoned

adjective · CEFR B1

used to describe a place that is empty because everyone has left it.

For teachers: describing a place or entity that is abandoned or exists in name only, often used in 'ghost town'.

- After the gold mine closed, the busy village quickly became a ghost town.
- The developers left behind a ghost estate of half-finished houses when the funding for the project suddenly dried up.

## Examples

- The old castle is famous for its resident ghost.
- Many people claim to have seen a ghost in the hallway of the historic hotel, but no one has ever captured a clear photo.
- The protagonist is haunted by the ghost of his former self, a literary device used to illustrate the profound regret he feels regarding his earlier life choices.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.