Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To visit or inhabit a place frequently or persistently.
   • To recur or come to mind continually, often in a disturbing way; to cause persistent anxiety or distress.
   • To appear or manifest as a ghost or spirit in a place.

2. Noun:

   • A place frequently visited by a person or group.
   • A place known as a den or gathering spot, often with a particular character.

Usage

• As a verb: The primary action is of frequent, often unwanted, presence—either physically or mentally.
• As a noun: Refers to the location itself that is subject to this frequent visitation.

Examples

• Verb:
  • Old memories haunt him every night. (Mental recurrence)
  • The ghost is said to haunt the old castle. (Spiritual presence)
  • He used to haunt the library when he was a student. (Frequent physical visitation)
• Noun:
  • That café was our favorite haunt in college.
  • The bar is a popular haunt for local artists.

Advanced Usage

• "to be haunted by": To be persistently troubled or obsessed by something.
  • She is haunted by the fear of failure.
• "haunting" (adjective): Beautiful or poignant in a way that is difficult to forget, often with a melancholic or eerie quality.
  • The melody was beautiful yet haunting.

Variants and Related Words

• Haunter (n): One who or that which haunts.
• Hauntingly (adv): In a haunting manner.
  • The landscape was hauntingly beautiful.

Synonyms

• Verb: Frequent, visit often, plague, torment, obsess, inhabit (as a spirit).
• Noun: Hangout, retreat, den, gathering place, stamping ground.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

(The word "haunt" itself does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed directly or with prepositions like "by" as shown in "haunted by.")

Related Idioms

• "Come back to haunt someone": For a past mistake or action to cause problems later.
  • His careless words from years ago came back to haunt him during the election.

Noun

1. a frequently visited place

Verb

1. be a regular or frequent visitor to a certain place
   • She haunts the ballet
2. haunt like a ghost; pursue
   • Fear of illness haunts her
3. follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to
   • her ex-boyfriend stalked her
   • the ghost of her mother haunted her