ghosting
/ˈɡoʊstɪŋ/
Very CommonSuddenly cutting off all communication with someone without explanation.
Originally dating-specific but now used for friendships, work contexts, and even brands. Being ghosted carries a sting because there is no closure.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | we talked every day for two weeks and then she just ghosted me. no warning. | The person disappeared from the conversation without any explanation after regular contact. | reddit, 2024 |
| 02 | i ghosted him after he sent me 47 texts in a row. no regrets. | Cutting off contact was justified because the other person was overwhelming. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | the recruiter ghosted me after 3 rounds of interviews. cool. | The company stopped communicating after significant investment of time. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | if you are going to ghost me at least have the decency to unlike my photos first | The contradiction of ignoring someone while still engaging with their content. | instagram, 2023 |
Use it when
- Someone completely stopped responding to your messages after a conversation was going fine.
- A date or match disappeared without saying anything.
- Someone vanished from a friendship with no explanation.
- A recruiter or company stopped responding during a hiring process.
Do not use it when
- Someone is just slow to reply or busy.
- Someone told you they did not want to talk anymore.
- You mean someone is lurking online without posting.Use “lurking” instead.
Variations and related forms
Ghosting vs orbiting
ghosting
Ghosting means cutting off all communication completely.
VS
orbiting
Orbiting means ignoring someone's messages but still watching their stories and liking their posts.
Origin and context
The term emerged from dating culture in the mid-2010s as online dating made it easy to disappear. Became mainstream vocabulary by 2018-2019 and has since expanded to professional and platonic contexts.
- First seen
- 2015
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/ghostingUpdated: 2026-08-25License: CC BY 4.0