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 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

Synonyms of spook

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

In the Neighborhood, but that score is really eerie as well, with some real moments of spook. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025

For more interstellar spooks, check out our lists of the best space horror games and best space horror movies. —Chris McMullen, Space.com, 22 Dec. 2025

Verb

Takaichi’s move to announce a February 8 snap election further spooked the market. —William Pesek, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

But after Kirk Douglas died at 103 in 2020, they were spooked and decided to move the goal posts a bit, so now Ghoul Pool calculations begin with 105. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026

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