haunted
A place or thing is haunted when it seems as though spirits from the past are still there. A house might be haunted by ghosts of people who used to live there.
When we say that a place is haunted, what we usually mean is that strange things happen there. People might see ghostly figures or hear unexplained noises. Some places in movies and books are said to be haunted because they have an eerie atmosphere that makes you feel like something supernatural is lurking around. For example, if someone tells you that the mansion on the hill is haunted by a tragic love story, you'll probably imagine spooky scenes with creaking doors and flickering candles. Haunted can also describe someone who is troubled or tormented by their past experiences.
How common is "haunted"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
verb
To inhabit, or visit frequently (most often used in reference to ghosts).
Example: A couple of ghosts haunt the old, burnt-down house.
adjective
Of a location, frequented by a ghost or ghosts.
Example: The hotel was haunted by a disembodied spirit.
Real examples of "haunted" in context
