Ghosting
BehaviorAbruptly cutting off all communication with someone you've been dating, with no explanation.
What it means
Ghosting is suddenly ending all contact with a romantic interest: no reply, no closure, no explanation. It usually happens after a few dates or several weeks of texting. It started as a casual term, but it's become one of the most talked-about behaviors of the app era, because disappearing on a stranger costs almost nothing.
Example
“We had three great dates and then he stopped responding to my messages. Total ghosting.”
Where it comes from
Popularized in the early 2010s with the rise of dating apps. The word is older, but it became cultural shorthand around 2014 and 2015.
Related terms
- Soft GhostingReplying with low-effort acknowledgments to slowly fade out, instead of fully disappearing.
- BreadcrumbingSending sporadic flirty messages to keep someone interested without actually pursuing them.
- Zombie-ingWhen someone who ghosted you reappears months later as if nothing happened.
- OrbitingWatching your stories and engaging with your social media after going silent on direct conversation.
Make the first impression the easy part.
Turn the photo you have into a better photo or a short video. Still you, on a good day.