going ghost
/ˈɡoʊɪŋ ɡoʊst/
Very CommonCutting off all communication with someone without any explanation.
Can be done from any stage of dating. The term is almost always used negatively when it happens to you, but sometimes justified when used on someone harassing you.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | we had plans for saturday and he just went ghost. no text, nothing | Someone disappeared with no warning right before plans they had made. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | i was going to go ghost but then i felt bad so i just sent a one-line text | Almost disappeared but chose minimal communication instead. | reddit, 2023 |
| 03 | if someone is harassing you, going ghost is completely valid | Disappearing is justified when contact itself is harmful. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 04 | two months in and he went ghost. not even a slow fade. just nothing | A full, abrupt disappearance rather than a gradual withdrawal. | instagram, 2024 |
Use it when
- Someone suddenly stops all contact with another person they were seeing or talking to.
- Describing disappearing on someone to avoid a difficult conversation.
- Warning someone that a person has been known to disappear.
Do not use it when
- Someone just took a few days to reply slowly.Use “slow-ghosting” instead.
- Someone ended things with an actual conversation.
Variations and related forms
Going ghost vs slow ghosting
going ghost
Going ghost is a sudden, complete cutoff with no warning.
VS
slow-ghosting
Slow ghosting is a gradual fade where replies get slower and eventually stop.
Origin and context
A metaphor comparing disappearing without a trace to a ghost. Has been used colloquially for decades but spread as mainstream internet slang in the 2010s as texting and dating apps made disappearing easier.
- First seen
- 2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/going-ghostUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0