spooked; spooking; spooks
1
2
: to make frightened or frantic : scare
especially
: to startle into violent activity (such as stampeding)
: to become spooked
cattle spooking at shadows
Synonyms
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
John Hopewell, Variety, 14 May 2024
Here are five ideas for getting your spook on for All Hallows Eve this year.
—Jené Luciani Sena, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2023
John Eligon, New York Times, 1 June 2024
The energy crisis of the past two years continues to be a major concern, and uncertainty in the run-up to the European elections as well as rising social tensions and political radicalism is spooking investors too.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Europe, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for spook 
Noun
Since horror films have delivered at the box office, companies are leaning into the spooks and scares.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 14 May 2024
Here are five ideas for getting your spook on for All Hallows Eve this year.
—Jené Luciani Sena, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2023
Verb
Analysts said that this partnership could spook big business and international investors because of the Economic Freedom Fighters’ insistence on nationalizing mines and other businesses, and taking land from white owners to redistribute to Black South Africans.
—John Eligon, New York Times, 1 June 2024
The energy crisis of the past two years continues to be a major concern, and uncertainty in the run-up to the European elections as well as rising social tensions and political radicalism is spooking investors too.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Europe, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for spook
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spook.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spook
Cite this Entry
“Spook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spook. Accessed 7 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spook
1 of 2 nounspook
2 of 2 verb
: to make or become frightened : scare
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