ghost

ghost — noun

1. the supposed form of someone who has died, which some people claim appears to li

1.nounB1
Definition

the supposed form of someone who has died, which some people claim appears to living people as a sight or sound.

Example

The old castle is said to be haunted by the ghost of a medieval king.

be haunted by the ghost of [person]

Amihan told her younger brother not to be afraid of ghosts hiding under the bed.

Common collocations
  • see a ghost
  • believe in ghosts
  • a ghost appears
  • a ghost haunts
Synonyms
  • spirit

    broader term; can refer to any non-physical being, not only the dead

  • specter

    more literary; often suggests a frightening or threatening ghost

  • apparition

    emphasises the sudden or strange appearance of a ghost-like figure

2. an unpleasant memory from the past that continues to affect someone's present li

2.nounB2
Definition

an unpleasant memory from the past that continues to affect someone's present life or feelings.

Example

The ghost of the financial crisis still affects the local housing market.

the ghost of [negative event] + affect

Ravindra felt the ghost of his failed relationship every time he walked past the park.

Common collocations
  • ghost of something past
  • ghost of ___ hangs over
  • ghost of ___ lingers
Synonyms
  • shadow

    suggests something that follows a person or situation like a dark shape

  • memory

    more neutral; does not carry the negative weight that 'ghost' does

Grammar Patterns

ghost of [something bad]

Usage Note

Usually followed by 'of' and a noun phrase referring to a past event or situation. The ghost is not a real spirit but a figurative memory that feels present.

Common Mistakes

The ghost of my grandmother still affects me' (when you mean a literal spirit).
The ghost of my grandmother's harsh words still affects me.
add the event to show it is a memory, not a literal ghost.

3. a very small amount or slight sign of something, especially an emotion or qualit

3.nounB2
Definition

a very small amount or slight sign of something, especially an emotion or quality.

Example

There was not a ghost of a chance that the team would win the match.

not a ghost of a chance

A ghost of a smile crossed Elena's face when she heard the good news.

a ghost of a smile

Common collocations
  • a ghost of a chance
  • a ghost of a smile
  • not a ghost of
Synonyms
  • trace

    more general; can be used for both concrete and abstract small amounts

  • hint

    suggests a small indirect sign that something may exist or happen

  • shred

    used with nouns like 'doubt' or 'hope'; emphasises a tiny remaining amount

Antonyms
  • abundance

    a large amount of something

  • lot

    a large quantity; informal

Grammar Patterns

a ghost of [something]

not a ghost of a [noun]

Usage Note

Used in fixed expressions like 'a ghost of a + noun' or 'not a ghost of a + noun'. The noun is typically something abstract such as 'a chance', 'a smile', or 'a hope'.

Common Mistakes

There was a ghost of a chair in the corner.' (trying to use it for concrete objects).
There was a ghost of a smile on her face.
only use with abstract things like emotions or qualities.

4. a person employed to write a book, article, or speech for another person who the

4.nounC1
Definition

a person employed to write a book, article, or speech for another person who then publishes it under their own name.

Example

The famous singer hired a ghost to write her autobiography.

hire a ghost to write

Many politicians rely on ghosts to prepare their public speeches.

Common collocations
  • hire a ghost
  • work as a ghost
  • a ghost writes [text]
Synonyms
  • ghostwriter

    the full, more formal term for the same role

  • co-writer

    someone who writes with another and is credited, unlike a ghost who is not named

Antonyms
  • author

    the credited writer who is named on the work

Usage Note

Commonly shortened from 'ghostwriter'. The word 'ghost' alone in this sense is informal and used mainly in the publishing industry.

Idioms

be a ghost/shadow of your former self

idiom

To become much weaker or less successful than you were before.

After the illness, Mia was a ghost of her former self.

The old factory is now a shadow of its former self.

give up the ghost

idiom

To stop working or functioning completely.

My laptop gave up the ghost during the presentation.

Did your old car finally give up the ghost?

ghost — verb

Word family

  • ghostly
    adjectiveB2
  • ghostwriter
    nounC1
  • ghostwriting
    nounC1
  • ghosting
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something non-physical or supernatural, but they differ in feel and use. 'Ghost' is the everyday word — you use it for stories, beliefs, and Halloween costumes. 'Spirit' is broader and more neutral; it can refer to a ghost, but also to the soul, a mood, or an essence ('team spirit'). 'Specter' is more literary and carries a threatening tone — a specter is usually a frightening or ominous ghost, often used figuratively ('the specter of war'). 'Apparition' emphasises the suddenness and strangeness of the appearance; an apparition may appear briefly and then vanish. 'Phantom' suggests something that seems to exist but is not real, like a phantom pain or a phantom ship. In everyday conversation, 'ghost' is the most natural choice. If you were writing a ghost story, you might describe the figure first as an 'apparition' (for the shock of its sudden appearance) and later as a 'ghost' (once its nature is clear).

spirit ↗specterapparitionphantom ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • like a ghost

Prepositions

  • ghost of [something]

Etymology

GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'ghost' comes from Old English 'gāst', meaning 'spirit, soul, or breath'. This word goes back to a shared Germanic root 'gaistaz', which also gave German 'Geist' (spirit, mind) and Dutch 'geest'. The original meaning was simply 'the animating spirit of a person', without the frightening associations that developed later. In Old English, the word was used in Christian texts for the Holy Spirit ('Hālga Gāst'). The modern spelling 'gh' appeared in the 1400s, borrowed from Flemish printing conventions. The sense of 'a dead person's spirit that appears to the living' was already present in Old English, while the newer meanings — 'ghostwriter' (1800s), 'to ghost someone' (2000s), and 'slight trace' (1600s) — developed much later.