haunt

/hɑnt/

/hɔnt/

Other forms: haunted; haunts; haunting

The verb to haunt means to appear as a ghost or some kind of supernatural phenomenon. Ebenezer Scrooge was haunted by the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future.

The first recorded usage of the word haunt is in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a play filled with supernatural characters running around scaring the knickers off each other. As Shakespeare knew, haunting is at its most effective in the passive voice, because there is much more drama in being haunted than haunting. Another use of the word haunt is as a noun, and it means "a place that is frequented often," like a popular hangout. The gym, a bar, a corner: these are all potential haunts. The dentist, the principal’s office, a busy intersection: these are not.

Definitions of haunt

1. verb

   follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to
   “the ghost of her mother haunted her”

   synonyms: stalk

   type of:

   follow, pursue

   follow in or as if in pursuit
2. verb

   be a regular or frequent visitor to a certain place
   “She haunts the ballet”

   synonyms: frequent

   types:

   hang out

   spend time in a certain location or with certain people

   type of:

   travel to, visit

   go to certain places as for sightseeing
3. verb

   haunt like a ghost; pursue
   “Fear of illness haunts her”

   synonyms: ghost, obsess

   type of:

   preoccupy

   engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively
4. noun

   a frequently visited place
   synonyms: hangout, repair, resort, stamping ground

   types:

   gathering place

   a favorite haunt where people gather

   type of:

   area, country

   a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)