ghostly

1 of 2

adjective

ghost·​ly ˈgōst-lē 

ghostlier; ghostliest

1

: of or relating to the soul : spiritual

2

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a ghost : spectral

ghostliness noun

ghostly adverb

ghostliness

2 of 2

noun

ghost·​li·​ness

ˈgōstlēnə̇s, 

-lin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being ghostly

Examples of ghostly in a Sentence

Adjective

A ghostly figure appears in the house at night.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Everything reached her from far away; her sensations were ghostly. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Roth asks in one, referencing the ghostly figure careening overhead. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026

The sky was a smoky grayish-orange and trees a few hundred yards away had turned to ghostly outlines. — Lorraine Boissoneault, STAT, 12 Aug. 2026

Together, Grace and Rose must uncover the Harrow Home’s secrets and seek justice—or ghostly vengeance—for the young women who suffered there. — Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gostlines, from gostly + -nes -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ghostly

• mostly

Kids Definition

ghostly

adjective

ghost·​ly ˈgōst-lē 

ghostlier; ghostliest

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a ghost

ghostliness noun