Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Continually recurring to the mind; unforgettable.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The appearance or visitation of disembodied spirits.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Present participle of haunt.
  • noun A particular instance of haunting; a ghostly habitation.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective continually recurring to the mind
  • adjective having a deeply disquieting or disturbing effect

Etymologies

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Examples

  • In the interest of avoiding such untenable consequences, the notion that a haunting is a condition which can and should be ascertained upon reasonable inspection of the premises is a hobgoblin which should be exorcised from the body of legal precedent and laid quietly to rest ...

    First Department 2008

  • In the interest of avoiding such untenable consequences, the notion that a haunting is a condition which can and should be ascertained upon reasonable inspection of the premises is a hobgoblin which should be exorcised from the body of legal precedent and laid quietly to rest ...

    Funny stuff 2007

  • "If you battle the king, you better kill him, or he's going to come back and haunt you," First off, I didn't realize Mr. Hurckes was a king, and secondly, is creating a brochure full of untruths what he calls haunting?

    unknown title 2009

  • Particularly haunting is the scene in which Bean destroys his trailer in a fit of unbridled rage as Boggis and Bunce look on helplessly.

    Seeing Double: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory / Fantastic Mr. Fox » Scene-Stealers 2010

  • Lefevre captures it all in haunting and sometimes gruesome detail.

    Robot reviews: The Photographer | Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources – Covering Comic Book News and Entertainment 2009

  • My own personal haunting comes from a few years back when I was a Sergeant.

    Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime. « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2007

  • Instead, a team that seemed Miami-bound as late as the third quarter of Sunday's AFC divisional playoff game against New England self-destructed in haunting mistakes and because the Chargers Defense let Tom Brady hang around long enough to pull off the 24th fourth-quarter comeback of his six-season career as the Patriots quarterback.

    Plug pulled suddenly on Chargers' hopes 2007

  • In fact, the more I looked at it, the more it reminded me of those metal beds you see lined up in haunting photographs of First World War military hospitals, in which a ward full of grievously injured young men — heads bandaged, empty pajama sleeves pinned up — lie propped against pillows and (if they can) glumly regard the camera.

    Home Alone 2006

  • In fact, the more I looked at it, the more it reminded me of those metal beds you see lined up in haunting photographs of First World War military hospitals, in which a ward full of grievously injured young men — heads bandaged, empty pajama sleeves pinned up — lie propped against pillows and (if they can) glumly regard the camera.

    Home Alone 2006

  • Revamped as an attractive garden restaurant, its glorious past endures in haunting memorabilia, lush vegetation, and Mismaloya's sapphire bay below.

    Puerto Vallarta: where the art of life thrives! 2003

Comments

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  • My adjectival use: 'They love a haunting tune.'

    My use as a noun: 'They reported a haunting.'

    August 22, 2011