# haunt

/ˈhɔnt/ (US) · /hˈɔːnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/haunt
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. ghosts visiting a place

verb · CEFR B1

to visit or live in a place as a ghost.

For teachers: to manifest as a ghost or spirit in a specific location. Transitive, taking the location as a direct object.

- Locals say that the ghost of a grey lady haunts the old castle library.
- Legend has it that the spirit of the former lighthouse keeper continues to haunt the cliffs, appearing only during the most violent winter storms.

### 2. memories or feelings

verb · CEFR B2

to stay in your mind for a long time in an unpleasant way.

For teachers: to recur persistently in the mind of a person, typically causing distress or anxiety.

- The memory of the car accident continued to haunt him for many years.
- The missed opportunity to reconcile with his father would haunt him for the rest of his professional life, influencing every decision he made.

### 3. a regular place

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a place that you visit often because you like it.

For teachers: a place frequented by a specified person or group of people.

- The quiet café in the corner of the park was her favourite haunt.
- The old tavern had once been a popular haunt for local poets and revolutionary thinkers before it was converted into a modern boutique.

### 4. a ghost

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect

another word for a ghost or a spirit.

For teachers: a ghost or supernatural apparition. This usage is restricted to specific regional varieties.

- The children were afraid to go into the woods, fearing they might see a haunt.
- In the folklore of the region, a haunt is said to guard the entrance to the hidden valley, deterring any unwanted travellers.

## Examples

- A ghost haunts the old hotel.
- The memory of the accident still haunts him years later.
- His early failures haunted his later career, casting a shadow of self-doubt over even his most celebrated achievements.

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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.