breathless

[ breth-lis ]

adjective

1. without breath or breathing with difficulty; gasping; panting:

   We were breathless after the steep climb.

2. with the breath held, as in suspense, astonishment, fear, or the like:

   breathless listeners of the mystery story.

3. causing loss of breath, as from excitement, anticipation, or tension:

   a breathless ride.

4. dead; lifeless.
5. motionless or still, as air without a breeze:

   a breathless summer day.

breathless

/ ˈbrɛθlɪs /

adjective

1. out of breath; gasping, etc
2. holding one's breath or having it taken away by excitement, etc

   a breathless confrontation

3. (esp of the atmosphere) motionless and stifling
4. rare.
   lifeless; dead

Derived Forms

• ˈbreathlessness, noun
• ˈbreathlessly, adverb

Other Words From

• breathless·ly adverb
• breathless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of breathless¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, breathless is from the Middle English word brethles. See breath, -less

Example Sentences

You will feel breathless within minutes if you try to run or even walk at a brisk pace in the smog.

From BBC

Nicole, who lives in a Southern Trust area, was diagnosed in January last year, after months of trips back and forth to doctors to find out why she was so breathless.

From BBC

I’m a little breathless watching — and not just because the temperature has dropped.

From Los Angeles Times

Highlighting the star's intricate choreography, the Independent, awarded four stars, saying "melancholy, oddly intimate" performance "frequently leaves you breathless."

From BBC

She told the court that when her husband came back into the house afterwards he was angry and breathless "with some sort of facial cut".

From BBC