Meaning & Definition
noun
The spirit or soul of a dead person, often depicted as a pale, shadowy figure.
Some say the ghost of the old lady still haunts the mansion.
A faint or elusive presence.
There was a ghost of a smile on her lips as she remembered the good times.
An abandoned or forgotten person or thing.
He felt like a ghost in the party, invisible among the lively crowd.
verb
To appear as a ghost or spirit.
The long-forgotten love seemed to ghost through his memories.
To leave someone suddenly without explanation, especially in the context of dating.
After their second date, he decided to ghost her instead of saying he wasn't interested.
To design or write a piece of content for someone else, usually without acknowledgment.
She was hired to ghost the autobiography for the famous celebrity.
Etymology
Old English 'gāst', meaning 'breath', 'soul', or 'spirit'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
ghost town:
A deserted town or the disuse of an area, often implying decay.
ghostwriter:
A person who writes for someone else, typically without receiving credit.
to ghost someone:
To cut off communication suddenly without explanation.
Slang Meanings
To stop all communication with someone.
After our last fight, she completely ghosted me.
To leave unexpectedly or without notice.
He just ghosted out of the party without saying goodbye.