haunt

haunt — verb

1. A painful memory, past mistake, or fear haunts someone when it repeatedly return

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

A painful memory, past mistake, or fear haunts someone when it repeatedly returns to their thoughts and causes sadness or worry.

例句

Years after the car accident, the sound of breaking glass still haunts Chiara.

memory + still haunt + person

A careless remark she made in her youth came back to haunt Ravindra decades later.

come back to haunt [someone] (idiomatic pattern)

同義詞
  • torment

    Stronger and more intense; suggests active infliction of mental pain

  • plague

    Emphasises constant annoyance or trouble, often with a sense of inevitability

  • trouble

    Milder; a general word for causing worry without the lingering, repeated quality of 'haunt'

反義詞
  • comfort

    To give someone a feeling of peace or reassurance

  • reassure

    To remove someone's fears or doubts

文法句型

haunt + person

haunt + person + for + time

come back to haunt + person

用法筆記

Subject is typically a negative experience, memory, fear, or regret. A happy memory would not 'haunt' someone — the word always carries a sad or anxious tone.

常見錯誤

❌The difficult exam haunted me for a few minutes.
✅The difficult exam worried me for a few minutes.
💡'haunt' suggests the thought returns repeatedly over a long period, not just brief worry.
❌The beautiful sunset haunted me all evening.
✅The beautiful sunset stayed in my mind all evening.
💡'haunt' is used for unpleasant thoughts, not pleasant ones.

2. If a ghost or spirit haunts a building or outdoor area, people believe it can be

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

If a ghost or spirit haunts a building or outdoor area, people believe it can be seen or felt there, usually at night or under mysterious conditions.

例句

Local legend says the ghost of a pirate haunts the old inn by the harbour.

ghost of [person] haunts [place]

The abandoned hospital on the hill is said to be haunted by former patients.

passive with infinitive: is said to be haunted by

同義詞
  • appear in

    Neutral, factual language without supernatural weight

  • inhabit

    More formal; can be used for ghosts or for living creatures occupying a space

反義詞
  • flee

    To leave a place quickly, the opposite of lingering as a presence

文法句型

haunt + place

be haunted by + ghost

用法筆記

Frequently used in passive form ('be haunted by'). Common in ghost stories, local legends, and descriptions of old or abandoned buildings. The related adjective 'haunted' is very common in this sense.

常見錯誤

❌The ghost haunted in the hallway for a moment.
✅The ghost haunts the old mansion.
💡'haunt' describes a ghost's repeated presence in a place, not a single brief appearance.

3. To go to a particular place very regularly, either because you enjoy being there

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

To go to a particular place very regularly, either because you enjoy being there or as part of your daily routine.

例句

During his student years, Yan haunted the city galleries, studying each painting for hours.

haunt + place + purpose clause

The bookshop near the station was once haunted by Beatrix and her classmates after school.

passive: be haunted by + group of people

同義詞
  • frequent

    More formal and neutral; suitable for both writing and formal speech

  • patronize

    Specifically means visiting as a customer of a business; slightly formal

反義詞
  • avoid

    To stay away from a place deliberately

文法句型

haunt + place

be haunted by + group of people

用法筆記

Slightly old-fashioned or literary in modern English. More common in written narratives than everyday conversation. In casual speech, 'frequent' or 'visit regularly' is more natural.

常見錯誤

❌I haunt that cafe every morning.
✅I go to that cafe every morning.
💡In this sense, 'haunt' sounds dated or literary in everyday conversation.

haunt — noun