spook

1 of 2

noun

ˈspük 

1

: ghost, specter

2

: an undercover agent : spy

spookish

ˈspü-kish 

adjective

spook

2 of 2

verb

spooked; spooking; spooks

transitive verb

1

: haunt sense 3

2

: to make frightened or frantic : scare

especially : to startle into violent activity (such as stampeding)

intransitive verb

: to become spooked

cattle spooking at shadows

Synonyms

Noun

• agent
• asset
• emissary
• intelligencer
• mole
• operative
• spy
• undercover

Verb

• affright
• alarm
• alarum
• fright
• frighten
• horrify
• panic
• scare
• scarify
• shock
• startle
• terrify
• terrorize

Examples of spook in a Sentence

Noun

Russia recalled its spooks after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Halloween is the night when spooks and goblins are said to roam abroad.

Verb

The noise spooked the cat.

The little girl was spooked by scary masks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But, Evil trades The X-Files sci-fi spooks for Catholic creeps. —Brooke Knisley, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2024

Although all major countries still recruit spooks to steal secrets, old-school spying has been overtaken by new kinds of intelligence and influence operations. —Clive Hamilton, Foreign Affairs, 26 July 2018

Verb

After the loud scream, the man was spooked and ran southbound down West Drive, police said. —Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 24 June 2024

But those hopes were dashed after three hot inflation reports spooked the Fed this spring. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 12 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Dutch; akin to Middle Low German spōk ghost

First Known Use

Noun

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1883, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

spook

1 of 2 noun

ˈspük 

1

: ghost, specter

2

: spy entry 2 sense 2

spook

2 of 2 verb

: to make or become frightened : scare