lungs

Cultural

A pair of organs, the principal parts of the respiratory system, at the front of the cavity of the chest, or thorax. In the lungs, oxygen from the air that is inhaled is transferred into the blood, while carbon dioxide is removed from the blood and exhaled.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Doctors told the family they found scrambled eggs in her lungs.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

The trouble with this was that the abductor muscles are the ones that open the trachea, allowing airflow to the lungs.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

"Particle pollution can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as asthma attacks, heart and lung disease symptoms, and increased risk of lung infections," the National Weather Service warned.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Children’s lungs are still developing, and lung function continues to mature throughout adolescence, making children more susceptible than adults to the adverse effects of air pollution.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Joe was screaming at the top of his lungs, flailing around inside the net.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023