Meaning & use
ghosting
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Meanings
noununcountableinformal
The practice of suddenly ending a relationship by stopping all communication without explanation.
Grammar: Uncountable: ghosting is the act; you can say 'the ghosting of a partner' but not 'a ghosting'.
Patterns
- ghosting someone
- the ghosting of someone
After three dates, his ghosting left her confused and hurt.
Ghosting has become common in online dating.
noununcountableinformal
The act of suddenly stopping all communication with someone, especially in a professional context.
Grammar: Uncountable; often used with 'of' to specify the person or group affected.
Patterns
- ghosting a candidate
- ghosting by a company
The company was criticized for ghosting job applicants after interviews.
Recruiters should avoid ghosting candidates; it damages their reputation.
Common combinations
- online dating ghosting
- Online dating ghosting is when someone stops replying without warning.
- ghosting someone
- She accused him of ghosting her after their second date.
- experience ghosting
- Many people experience ghosting at least once in their dating life.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cutting off
- Cutting off contact is a broader term; ghosting specifically means doing so suddenly and without explanation.
- silent treatment
- The silent treatment is refusing to speak to someone as a punishment; ghosting is ending a relationship by disappearing.
Word family
- ghost verb
- To ghost someone is to end a relationship by suddenly stopping all communication.
Commonly confused: ghosting or ghostwriting?
ghosting vs ghostwriting
Ghostwriting is writing for someone else who takes the credit; ghosting is cutting off contact.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'ghosting' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Ghosting means suddenly cutting off communication in a relationship; the other options misuse the word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ghosting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.