spook

1 of 2

noun

1
2
: an undercover agent : spy
spookish adjective

spook

2 of 2

verb

spooked; spooking; spooks

transitive verb

1
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for spook

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of spook was in 1801

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spook. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

spook

1 of 2 noun

spook

2 of 2 verb
: to make or become frightened : scare

More from Merriam-Webster on spook

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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