First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1haunt
verb \ˈhȯnt, ˈhänt\
of a ghost : to visit or live in (a place)
: to eventually cause problems for (someone) as time passes
: to keep coming back to the mind of (someone) especially in a way that makes the person sad or upset
Full Definition of HAUNT
transitive verb
1
a : to visit often : frequent b : to continually seek the company of
2
a : to have a disquieting or harmful effect on : trouble <problems we ignore now will come back to haunt us> b : to recur constantly and spontaneously to <the tune haunted her> c : to reappear continually in <a sense of tension that haunts his writing>
3
: to visit or inhabit as a ghost
intransitive verb
1
: to stay around or persist : linger
2
: to appear habitually as a ghost
— haunt·er noun
— haunt·ing·ly \ˈhȯn-tiŋ-lē, ˈhän-\ adverb
See haunt defined for English-language learners
See haunt defined for kids
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Origin of HAUNT
Middle English, from Anglo-French hanter, probably from Old Norse heimta to lead home, pull, claim, from heimr home
Related to HAUNT
2haunt
noun \ˈhȯnt, ˈhänt, 2 is usually ˈhant\
: a place that you go to often
Full Definition of HAUNT
1
: a place habitually frequented
2
chiefly dialect : ghost
See haunt defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of HAUNT
14th century
Related to HAUNT
- Synonyms
- hangout, purlieu, rendezvous, resort, stamping ground, stomping ground
HAUNTER Defined for Kids
1haunt
verb \ˈhȯnt\
haunt·edhaunt·ing
Definition of HAUNT for Kids
1
: to visit or live in as a ghost <Spirits haunt the house.>
2
: to visit often <… I began haunting the docks when the ferry … came in. — Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved>
3
: to come to mind frequently <The song haunts me.>
2haunt
noun
Definition of HAUNT for Kids
: a place often visited <The café is her favorite haunt.>
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