Word
spooky
US/ˈspuki/
UK/spˈuːki/
Definitions
01eerie or ghostly
B1 · Intermediate Informal
adj. strange and scary in a way that makes you think of ghosts or the supernatural.
adj. suggestive of ghosts or the supernatural; evoking a sense of eerie unease.
“The old house at the end of the street looks very spooky at night.”
“The abandoned asylum had a spooky atmosphere that made the urban explorers feel as though they were being watched from the shadows.”
02skittish or nervous
C1 · Advanced Informal · Dialect
adj. easily scared or nervous, especially used for animals like horses.
adj. unpredictably excitable or skittish; prone to being easily startled.
“The horse became spooky when the loud motorcycle drove past the field.”
“The trainer warned that the young mare was particularly spooky in high winds, often bolting at the slightest movement of the trees.”
Usage
Commonly used in equestrian contexts to describe a horse's temperament.
Etymology
From spook + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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