ghosting

noun

ghost·ing | \ ˈgō-stiŋ

Definition of ghosting

1 : a faint double image on a television screen or other display also : the formation of such images Such displays tend to suffer from ghosting, which shows up as extraneous lines on screen. — Consumer Reports

2 informal : the act or practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with someone (such as a former romantic partner) usually without explanation by no longer accepting or responding to phone calls, instant messages, etc. Romeo one minute, where'd he go the next? Ghosting is when you go poof and literally disappear out of someone's life without a word or explanation.— Samantha Burns "It's the fear of missing out on the thing, or person, that is coming next. … It may be a little mean, but we're dating; it's not like we're in a relationship," said one anonymous online dater in defense of ghosting.— Chelsea Frisbie — see also ghost entry 2 sense 3

Examples of ghosting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Watch out for friends bailing, dates ghosting, or plans suddenly changing on this full moon. — Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 25 Apr. 2022 Indeed, ghosting is evident across every stage of the hiring process, from no-shows for interviews and on first days to, at its most extreme, disappearing acts during the interview itself. — David Morel, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2022 By 2015, Amanda realised that ghosting was becoming a habit, now in her romantic relationships. — refinery29.com, 6 Mar. 2022 He was accused of all sorts of misdeeds, including ghosting, love-bombing, and sending unsolicited explicit photos. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Mar. 2022 Everything is crisp, clean and smooth, with practically no ghosting, blurring or artifacts, which is largely due to the excellent response time. — Mitch Wallace, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2021 Managers hiring for tech (48%) and administrative and customer support (42%) roles were most likely to report an increase in ghosting, the report found. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2022 Plus, money & tech reporter Terry Collins talks about the burden of inflation, columnist Sara Kububric considers how to get over ghosting, a NASA space telescope reaches its final destination and tax season begins. — Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2022 Despite the predictability of Caden’s ghosting, Lasley is devastated. — Amber Medland, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ghosting.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.