HAUNT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does haunt mean? 

• HAUNT (noun)
  The noun HAUNT has 1 sense:

1. a frequently visited place

  Familiarity information: HAUNT used as a noun is very rare.

• HAUNT (verb)
  The verb HAUNT has 3 senses:

1. follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to

2. haunt like a ghost; pursue

3. be a regular or frequent visitor to a certain place

  Familiarity information: HAUNT used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HAUNT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A frequently visited place

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

hangout; haunt; repair; resort; stamping ground

Hypernyms ("haunt" is a kind of...):

area; country (a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "haunt"):

gathering place (a favorite haunt where people gather)

Derivation:

haunt (be a regular or frequent visitor to a certain place)

• HAUNT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they haunt    ... he / she / it haunts   
Past simple: haunted   
Past participle: haunted   
-ing form: haunting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

haunt; stalk

Context example:

the ghost of her mother haunted her

Hypernyms (to "haunt" is one way to...):

follow; pursue (follow in or as if in pursuit)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Haunt like a ghost; pursue

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

ghost; haunt; obsess

Context example:

Fear of illness haunts her

Hypernyms (to "haunt" is one way to...):

preoccupy (engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

The good news will haunt her
The performance is likely to haunt Sue

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be a regular or frequent visitor to a certain place

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

frequent; haunt

Context example:

She haunts the ballet

Hypernyms (to "haunt" is one way to...):

travel to; visit (go to certain places as for sightseeing)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "haunt"):

hang out (spend time in a certain location or with certain people)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

haunt (a frequently visited place)

 Context examples 

Then the youth went next morning to the king, and said: “If it be allowed, I will willingly watch three nights in the haunted castle.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I remember that during the whole long day I was haunted by the feeling that we were closely observed, though by whom or whence I could give no guess.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I was so haunted at last by the idea, though I knew there was nothing in it, that I stole into the next room to look at him.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

For some days I haunted the spot where these scenes had taken place, sometimes wishing to see you, sometimes resolved to quit the world and its miseries for ever.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I involuntarily shunned the thought of it, and yet the thought continually arose in my mind like a haunting spectre.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He was haunted by a fear that the food would not last.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

She looked back at us from the door, and I had a last impression of that beautiful haunted face, the startled eyes, and the drawn mouth.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But when Laurie was gone, and peace prevailed again, the vague anxiety returned and haunted her.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Jane, you shall not stay here, nor will I. I was wrong ever to bring you to Thornfield Hall, knowing as I did how it was haunted.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

My night was haunted by the thought that somewhere a clue, a strange sentence, a curious observation, had come under my notice and had been too easily dismissed.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)