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 of haunting

Adjective

• eerie
• creepy

Examples of haunting in a Sentence

Adjective

the haunting tones of the Highland bagpipes

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

They are stuck there longer than expected, and the family is subjected to the hauntings. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026

They are stuck there longer than expected and the family is subjected to the hauntings. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026

Adjective

Despite some progress, homelessness is still a public catastrophe, and gravely ill people are a haunting representation of policy failures. —Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026

Although not exactly the same, Bach Mai wove together long silk strands of black fringe on a dress, coat and skirt for a look that felt similarly haunting. —Ari Stark, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for haunting

• daunting
• flaunting
• shantung
• taunting
• vaunting
• wanting