haunting
A haunting feeling or experience can be very unsettling and difficult to shake off. Imagine walking into an old mansion that has been abandoned for decades.
The word "haunting" is often used to describe a place, sound, or memory that stays with you long after you've left it behind. People might say, for example, "The city had a haunting quality to it at night," meaning the darkness and quiet made them feel uneasy or on edge. Others might talk about a song being hauntingly beautiful, suggesting its melody is stuck in their head and they can't get rid of it. In some cases, people describe a place as haunted by ghosts or spirits – but this usually has a more spooky connotation.
How common is "haunting"?
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.
noun
A particular instance of haunting; a ghostly habitation.
Example: During the haunting, strange voices and noises were heard and objects flew off tables.
adjective
Remaining in the mind; not easily forgotten.
Example: He had a haunting gaze.
Real examples of "haunting" in context
