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⇱ breath - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

breath

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈbrɛθ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/brɛθ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(breth)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
breath /brɛθ/USA pronunciation   n. 
  1. the air taken into and sent out of the lungs while breathing:[uncountable;usually: one's + ~]It's cold enough to see your breath today.
  2. [countable] a single act of taking in air and sending it out of the lungs: Take a deep breath.
  3. [uncountable;
    usually: one's + ~]     the ability to breathe easily and normally: I stopped tocatch my breath.
  4. [countable] a slight suggestion or hint: had never been touched by even a breath of scandal.
  5. a light current of air:[countable]A breath of wind filtered into the room.
Idioms
  1. Idioms below or under one's breath, in a low voice or whisper:"So glad to see you,'' she said. "I can't say the same, '' he muttered under his breath.
  2. hold one's breath, to stop breathing for a short period of time:She held her breath and dove into the water.
  3. Idioms in the same (or next) breath, almost at the same time:She promised to pay us for the work and then in the next breath suggested we should do it voluntarily.
  4. Idioms out of breath, breathless from exertion:I was completely out of breath after five flights of stairs.
  5. Idioms save one's breath, to avoid futile talk or discussion: We were told to save our breath.
  6. Idioms take one's breath away, to make one as if breathless with astonishment: The beauty of the sea took my breath away.

    breath is a noun, breathe is a verb, and breathless and breathtaking are adjectives:His breath smelled of whiskey. He couldn't breathe. She was breathless from excitement. The view is breathtaking.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
breath  (breth),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. the air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
  2. respiration, esp. as necessary to life.
  3. life;
    vitality.
  4. the ability to breathe easily and normally:She stopped to regain her breath.
  5. time to breathe;
    pause or respite:Give him a little breath.
  6. a single inhalation or respiration:He took a deep breath.
  7. the brief time required for a single respiration;
    a moment or instant:They gave it to her and took it away all in a breath.
  8. a slight suggestion, hint, or whisper:The breath of slander never touched her.
  9. a light current of air.
  10. Phonetics
    • Phoneticsthe air drawn into or expelled from the lungs to provide the generative source for most speech sounds.
    • Phoneticsthe audible expiration generating voiceless speech sounds, as (p), (k), (sh), etc.
  11. moisture emitted in respiration, esp. when condensed and visible.
  12. a trivial circumstance;
    trifle.
  13. an odorous exhalation, or the air impregnated by it.
  14. [Obs.]exhalation or vapor.
  15. Idioms below or under one's breath, in a low voice or whisper;
    sotto voce:He protested under his breath because he was afraid to speak up.
  16. Idioms catch one's breath, to pause or rest before continuing an activity or beginning a new one;
    resume regular breathing:Let me catch my breath before I begin anything new.
  17. Idioms in the same breath, at virtually the same time;
    almost simultaneously:She lost her temper and apologized in the same breath.
  18. Idioms out of breath, exhausted or gasping for breath, in consequence of an effort;
    breathless:After climbing to the top of the tower, we were so out of breath that we had to sit down.
  19. Idioms save one's breath, to avoid futile talk or discussion:We were told to save our breath because the matter had already been decided.
  20. Idioms take away one's breath, to make one as if breathless with astonishment;
    surprise;
    stun:The sheer beauty of the sea took away my breath.
Also, take one's breath away. 
  • bef. 900; Middle English breth, breeth, Old English brǣth smell, exhalation; akin to German Brodem vapor, steam
    3. spirit, animation, vigor, force.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
breath /brɛθ/ n
  1. the intake and expulsion of air during respiration
  2. the air inhaled or exhaled during respiration
  3. a single respiration or inhalation of air, etc
  4. the vapour, heat, or odour of exhaled air
  5. a slight gust of air
  6. a short pause or rest
  7. a brief time
  8. a suggestion or slight evidence; suspicion: a breath of scandal
  9. a whisper or soft sound
  10. life, energy, or vitality: the breath of new industry
  11. the passage of air through the completely open glottis without vibration of the vocal cords, as in exhaling or pronouncing fricatives such as (f) or (h) or stops such as (p) or (k)
    Compare voice
  12. catch one's breath ⇒ to rest until breathing is normal, esp after exertion
  13. in the same breath ⇒ done or said at the same time
  14. out of breath ⇒ gasping for air after exertion
  15. save one's breath ⇒ to refrain from useless talk
  16. take one's breath away ⇒ to overwhelm with surprise, etc
  17. under one's breath, below one's breath ⇒ in a quiet voice or whisper
Etymology: Old English brǣth; related to brǣdan to burn, Old High German brādam heat, breath
'breath' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: [fast, slow, quick, deep, rasping] breaths, [take, fail] a breath test, have [bad, minty, garlic, smelly, morning] breath, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "breath" in the title:

...breath-giving air
...have enough to do to draw your breath
'panting' for breath
'with every breath a new day'?
a bad smell on my breath
a bloom of warm breath
a breath away
a breath away
a breath of fresh air
a breath of fresh air
A breath of nothing
a hair's breath [breadth]
A heavy practice session which takes your breath away
a nastier woman never drew breath
a sword’s breath
a welcome blast of dragon's breath and the nastiest bitch to ever hit….
All the soul of man is resolution, which in valiant men falters never, until their last breath
And [dialectical meanings? "breath" or "to breath, whisper, scheme, imagine."]
and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath.
as long as I have the breath
as she took her last breath
attuned to his every breath
Baby you've done enough that cut your breath.
Bad breath
bad breath
bait for breath
baited breath [bated]
before catching her breath - before catching one's breath
booze breath measurer
Breath
more...

Look up "breath" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "breath" at dictionary.com
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