breathe

[ breeth ]

verb (used without object)

, breathed [bree, th, d], breath·ing.

1. to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.
2. (in speech) to control the outgoing breath in producing voice and speech sounds.
3. to pause, as for breath or rest:

   How about giving me a chance to breathe?

4. to move gently or blow lightly, as air.
5. to live; exist:

   Hardly a person breathes who has not known great sorrow.

6. to be redolent or suggestive:

   a poem breathing of the sights and sounds of a rustic life.

7. (of a material) to allow air and moisture to pass through easily:

   The jacket is comfortable because the fabric breathes.

8. (of the skin) to absorb oxygen and give off perspiration.
9. (of a wine) to be exposed to air after being uncorked, in order to develop flavor and bouquet.

verb (used with object)

, breathed [bree, th, d], breath·ing.

1. to inhale and exhale in respiration.
2. to exhale:

   Dragons breathe fire.

3. to inject as if by breathing; infuse:

   She breathed life into the party.

4. to give utterance to; whisper:

   She breathed a prayer of thanks when everyone escaped the fire unharmed.

5. to express; manifest:

   This coming-of-age novel breathes the torments and joys of adolescence.

   Synonyms: divulge, reveal, voice, murmur, tell, utter

6. to allow to rest or recover breath:

   After this next hill, we should breathe the horses.

7. to deprive of breath; tire; exhaust.
8. to cause to pant; exercise.

breathe

/ briːð /

verb

1. to take in oxygen from (the surrounding medium, esp air) and give out carbon dioxide; respire
2. intr to exist; be alive

   every animal that breathes on earth

3. intr to rest to regain breath, composure, etc

   stop your questions, and give me a chance to breathe

4. intr (esp of air) to blow lightly

   the wind breathed through the trees

5. intr machinery
   1. to take in air, esp for combustion

      the engine breathes through this air filter

   2. to equalize the pressure within a container, chamber, etc, with atmospheric pressure

      the crankcase breathes through this duct

6. tr phonetics to articulate (a speech sound) without vibration of the vocal cords Compare voice
7. to exhale or emit

   the dragon breathed fire

8. tr to impart; instil

   to breathe confidence into the actors

9. tr to speak softly; whisper

   to breathe words of love

10. tr to permit to rest

    to breathe a horse

11. intr (of a material) to allow air to pass through so that perspiration can evaporate
12. breathe again or breathe freely or breathe easily
    to feel relief

    I could breathe again after passing the exam

13. breathe down someone's neck
    to stay close to someone, esp to oversee what they are doing

    the cops are breathing down my neck

14. breathe one's last
    to die or be finished or defeated

Other Words From

• out·breathe verb (used with object) outbreathed outbreathing
• pre·breathe verb (used with object) prebreathed prebreathing

Word History and Origins

Origin of breathe¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English brethe, brethen, breeth, derivative of breath

Word History and Origins

Origin of breathe¹

C13: from breath

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. breathe down someone's neck,
   1. to be close to someone in pursuit; menace; threaten:

      Police from four states were breathing down his neck.

   2. to watch someone closely so as to supervise or control:

      If everyone keeps breathing down my neck, how can I get my work done?

2. breathe freely, to have relief from anxiety, tension, or pressure: Also breathe easily, breathe easy.

   Now that the crisis was over, he could breathe freely.

3. breathe one's last, to die:

   He breathed his last and was buried in the churchyard.

4. not breathe a word / syllable, to maintain secrecy; keep a matter confidential:

   I'll tell you if you promise not to breathe a word.

More idioms and phrases containing breathe

• as I live and breathe
• breathing space
• not breathe a word

Example Sentences

“When I got home from tour, I had really wild dizzy spells, this feeling like I couldn’t breathe,” she said.

From Salon

“He could barely breathe!” she recalled.

From Los Angeles Times

You can’t rely on the sky’s color, which can be deceiving: In 2020, wildfires turned San Francisco’s sky dark orange, but air quality was actually worse after the sun returned and the skies looked more normal, because by then smoke particles were dropping closer to the ground, into the air people breathe.

From Los Angeles Times

But it was the Labour leader John Smith who finally gave John Prescott political room to breathe, with a key role in selling modernisation to the party and unions.

From BBC

Though there are flourishes of new material, disciples of composer Stephen Schwartz’s songs can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the changes are minor but welcome.

From Salon

Related Words

• exhale
• inhale
• sigh