phantom

1.名詞B2

釋義

the shadowy shape of someone who has died, which some people think can appear to those still alive.

例句

A phantom crossed the castle stairs at midnight, the watchman swore.

common pattern: see or report a phantom

Before sunrise, a child's phantom appeared near the grave.

同義詞

ghost
the usual everyday word for the spirit of a dead person
spirit
broader; can mean a soul or supernatural being, not only a visible figure
apparition
more formal and focused on a sudden ghostly appearance
specter
more literary and often darker in tone

文法句型

see a phantom

a phantom appears

用法筆記

Often used in stories, legends, or reports of sightings. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names a supposed dead spirit, not just an unreal fear or idea.

常見錯誤

❌We saw a phantom actor on stage.

✅We saw an actor dressed as a ghost on stage.

💡this sense is for a supposed spirit, not simply a person in costume.

❌A phantom called the office this morning.

✅Someone pretending to be a ghost called the office this morning.

💡a phantom in this sense is usually described as an appearance, not an ordinary caller.

2.名詞C1

釋義

something that seems real in the mind or in reports, but has no true existence.

例句

The missing treasure was a phantom born from old sea stories.

be a phantom = be unreal despite strong belief

Mina's fear of public laughter was a phantom, not a real danger.

同義詞

illusion
stresses a false impression, often of what someone sees or believes
mirage
often suggests a tempting but unreal hope or image
fantasy
can be more imaginative and less tied to a mistaken belief
fiction
stresses that something has been invented rather than actually existing

反義詞

reality
what truly exists
fact
something known to be true rather than imagined

文法句型

be a phantom

prove a phantom

用法筆記

Often used for fears, dangers, enemies, or hopes that people treat as real. Distinguish from sense 1: no ghostly being is involved here; the point is that the thing was never truly there.

常見錯誤

❌A phantom broke the printer in our office.

✅A fault broke the printer in our office.

💡this sense is for something unreal or imagined, not an actual cause.

❌The broken bridge was a phantom.

✅The danger from the broken bridge was not a phantom.

💡a phantom is not a real object that everyone can plainly see.

1.形容詞C1

釋義

looking pale, strange, or shadowy in a way that suggests a ghost.

例句

In the moonlight, a phantom figure stood beside the empty boat.

phantom + figure/face/shape

A phantom church tower rose through the winter fog at dawn.

literary pattern: phantom + building or figure

同義詞

ghostly
the most direct and common choice for something like a ghost
spectral
more literary and often used in writing about eerie scenes
shadowy
focuses on unclear dark outline rather than a supernatural feeling
eerie
focuses on the strange or frightening feeling, not the look alone

反義詞

solid
clearly physical and substantial in appearance
ordinary
not strange or ghost-like

文法句型

phantom + figure

look phantom

用法筆記

Mostly literary and usually used before nouns like figure, face, shape, or hand. Distinguish from adjective sense 2: this sense describes ghost-like appearance, not whether something really exists.

常見錯誤

❌The Wi-Fi signal is phantom today.

✅The Wi-Fi signal is weak today.

💡this sense describes a ghost-like look, not something that is merely hard to detect.

❌The children wore phantom masks at the parade.

✅The children wore ghostly masks at the parade.

💡for costumes or decorations, English more often uses 'ghostly' than this literary adjective.

2.形容詞C1

釋義

seeming real, or being treated as real, although no such thing truly exists.

例句

After the accident, Mr. Lin still felt phantom pain at night.

collocation: phantom pain

The website listed a phantom address in the middle of a rice field.

同義詞

imaginary
existing only in the mind
illusory
more formal; stresses a misleading appearance of reality
fictitious
often used for names, companies, or stories that are invented
unreal
broad and direct, but less specific in tone

反義詞

real
truly existing rather than only seeming to exist
actual
existing in fact, not just in report or belief

文法句型

phantom + pain

phantom + company

phantom + risk

用法筆記

Usually appears before nouns like pain, company, address, threat, or risk. Distinguish from adjective sense 1: this sense marks something as unreal or falsely assumed, not merely pale or ghost-like in appearance.

常見錯誤

❌The children wore phantom masks at the parade.

✅The children wore ghost-like masks at the parade.

💡this sense means unreal or falsely existing, not just looking like a ghost.

❌The storm was phantom because it was very weak.

✅The storm threat was phantom because the radar report was false.

💡a phantom thing is not real, not simply small or weak.

phantom

phantom — noun

1. the shadowy shape of someone who has died, which some people think can appear to

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

2. something that seems real in the mind or in reports, but has no true existence.

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

phantom — adjective

1. looking pale, strange, or shadowy in a way that suggests a ghost.

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

2. seeming real, or being treated as real, although no such thing truly exists.

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤