haunting

1 of 3

noun

haunt·​ing ˈhȯn-tiŋ 

ˈhän-

plural hauntings

: an act of haunting

especially : visitation or inhabitation by a ghost

… its early history is replete with drama: duels, murders, shipwrecks, … even ghostly hauntings.

—Sally Gibson

When asked about hauntings on Tuesday's tour, [Albert] Walavich said he knew he would get a question about ghosts on Halloween, but he doesn't believe any haunt the grounds.

—Taylor Hartz

haunting

2 of 3

adjective

: having qualities (such as sadness or beauty) that linger in the memory : not easily forgotten

a haunting melody

haunting images

… pale, branchless tree trunks with a haunting, Georgia O'Keeffe quality …

—Susannah Master

haunting

3 of 3

present participle of haunt entry 1

Synonyms

Adjective

• creepy
• eerie
• eery
• spookish
• spooky
• uncanny
• unearthly
• weird

Examples of haunting in a Sentence

Adjective

the haunting tones of the Highland bagpipes

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Their story could have been told myriad ways and, if the current TV market had anything to say about it: the best way to tell any true crime is to be as bleak, haunting and gory as possible. —Ed Herro, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2024

And now a haunting morphing into a DEEPFAKE of BARRY GOLDWATER. —Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024

Adjective

The final scene is as haunting as anything in movies this year. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024

Combined with some of Cockle’s stunning photographs, the result is haunting. —Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "frequenting a place, dwelling place," from haunten "to frequent, haunt entry 1" + -ing -ing entry 1

Adjective

from present participle of haunt entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1823, in the meaning defined above