ghostly Hear it!

ghostly Definition

ghostly (gōst)

adjective -·lier, -·li·est

  1. of, like, or characteristic of a ghost; spectral
  2. Now Rare having to do with the soul or religion; spiritual

Etymology: ME gostlich < OE gastlic, spiritual, spectral

ghostly Related Forms
ghost·li·ness noun
ghostly Synonyms

ghostly

modif.

  1. Concerning a ghost

    ghostlike, pale, wan; see frightful 1.

  2. Concerning the soul

    spiritual, holy, religious; see divine 1, 2.

ghostly Usage Examples

Preposition: in

  • moonlight: Passing through Woodmansey I catch a glimpse across the fields of the two mile distant Beverley Minster, looking very ghostly in the moonlight.

Modifies a noun

  • apparition: They included a shot of the ghostly apparition, which appears to be checking the cellar with a lamp.
  • going: I REALLY didn't think I would see any ghostly goings on.
  • goings-on: Stories about ghostly goings-on at the Broad Street pub have been circulating for decades.
  • sighting: It is also the site of numerous claims of ghostly sightings of Brunel himself!
  • happening: Track down the skeletons & ghostly happenings on the family trail.
  • nun: Around 1900, the two sisters of Harry Bull saw the ghostly nun in the garden during the daytime.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: People feel it as a direct and almost ghostly connection to the foreignness of the past.
  • rather: The image is fading which gives the figure a rather ghostly appearance.
  • very: Passing through Woodmansey I catch a glimpse across the fields of the two mile distant Beverley Minster, looking very ghostly in the moonlight.
  • often: My work is extremely colorful and yet often ghostly and quite abstract.

Used with adjective complement

  • appear: The haze made it appear ghostly, even in the bright shine of the sun.
  • look: A pale one instead of the warm orange color, which made them look appropriately ghostly.
  • say: I have had a lot of unusual activity at our house ( you might say ghostly ).
  • mean: And this I do for fear lest thou shouldest conceive bodily that that is meant ghostly.
  • make: With Ghostbuster fever in the office most of the SU team are making ghostly woo wooing noises and filling our mouths with blood capsules.

Browse dictionary entries near ghostly

  1. ghosting
  2. ghost word
  3. ghost town
  4. ghost dance
  5. ghost
  6. Ghirlandaio
  7. ghillie
  8. Ghiberti
  9. Ghibelline
  10. ghettoize
  1. ghostwriter
  2. ghoul
  3. GHQ
  4. GHz
  5. gi
  6. GI Joe
  7. Giacometti
  8. Giannini, A.P.
  9. giant
  10. giant anteater