pant

¹

[ pant ]

verb (used without object)

1. to breathe hard and quickly, as after exertion.

   Synonyms: vibrate, throb, pulse, pulsate, pound, blow, wheeze, puff, heave

2. to gasp, as for air.
3. to long with breathless or intense eagerness; yearn:

   to pant for revenge.

   Synonyms: covet, thirst, hunger, hanker

4. to throb or heave violently or rapidly; palpitate.
5. to emit steam or the like in loud puffs.
6. Nautical. (of the bow or stern of a ship) to work with the shock of contact with a succession of waves. Compare work ( def 24 ).

verb (used with object)

1. to breathe or utter gaspingly.

noun

1. the act of panting.
2. a short, quick, labored effort at breathing; gasp.
3. a puff, as of an engine.
4. a throb or heave, as of the breast.

pant

²

[ pant ]

adjective

1. of or relating to pants:

   pant cuffs.

noun

1. pant leg.
2. pants ( defs 1, 2 ).

pant-

³

1. variant of panto- before a vowel.

pant

/ pænt /

verb

1. to breathe with noisy deep gasps, as when out of breath from exertion or excitement
2. to say (something) while breathing thus
3. introften foll byfor to have a frantic desire (for); yearn
4. intr to pulsate; throb rapidly

noun

1. the act or an instance of panting
2. a short deep gasping noise; puff

Other Words From

• panting·ly adverb
• un·panting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb panten, from Old French pant(a)is(i)er, from unattested Vulgar Latin phantasiāre “to have visions,” from Greek phantasioûn “to have or form images”; fantasy

Origin of pant²

First recorded in 1890–95; singular of pants

Word History and Origins

Origin of pant¹

C15: from Old French pantaisier, from Greek phantasioun to have visions, from phantasia fantasy

Synonym Study

Pant, gasp suggest breathing with more effort than usual. Pant suggests rapid, convulsive breathing, as from violent exertion or excitement: to pant after running for the train. Gasp suggests catching one's breath in a single quick intake, as from amazement, terror, and the like, or a series of such quick intakes of breath, as in painful breathing: to gasp with horror; to gasp for breath.

Related Words

• breathe heavily