spook

1 of 2

noun

ˈspük 

1

: ghost, specter

2

: an undercover agent : spy

spookish

ˈspü-kish 

adjective

spook

2 of 2

verb

spooked; spooking; spooks

transitive verb

1

: haunt sense 3

2

: to make frightened or frantic : scare

especially : to startle into violent activity (such as stampeding)

intransitive verb

: to become spooked

cattle spooking at shadows

Synonyms

Noun

• spy
• operative
• agent

Verb

• frighten
• scare
• terrify
• startle

Examples of spook in a Sentence

Noun

Russia recalled its spooks after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Halloween is the night when spooks and goblins are said to roam abroad.

Verb

The noise spooked the cat.

The little girl was spooked by scary masks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There will be trick-or-treating, costume contests, spook-tacular inflatables, Halloween crafts and vendor booths to connect families with community resources. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025

Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield are iconic characters that are wonderfully resurrected in this remake, the spooks are top notch, and the whole thing looks, sounds, and plays unbelievably. —Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025

Verb

One official wanted to raise interest rates, which would likely spook the markets by signaling acute concerns about a recession. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025

The black creepy-crawly stands out against the orange to spook visitors of all ages. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Dutch; akin to Middle Low German spōk ghost

First Known Use

Noun

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1883, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for spook

• fluke
• juke
• kook
• luc
• luke
• nuke
• puke
• souk
• archduke
• rebuke
• caoutchouc

Kids Definition

spook

1 of 2 noun

ˈspük 

1

: ghost, specter

2

: spy entry 2 sense 2

spook

2 of 2 verb

: to make or become frightened : scare