Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense breathes, present participle breathing, past tense, past participle breathed
1. verb
When people or animals breathe, they take air into their lungs and let it out again. When they breathe smoke or a particular kind of air, they take it into their lungs and let it out again as they breathe.
He stood there breathing deeply and evenly. [VERB]
Always breathe through your nose. [VERB]
No American should have to drive out of town to breathe clean air. [VERB noun]
A thirteen year old girl is being treated after breathing in smoke. [VERBin noun]
[Also Vout n]
Synonyms: inhale and exhale, pant, gasp, puff More Synonyms of breathe
breathinguncountable noun
Her breathing became slow and heavy.
He heard only deep breathing.
2. verb
If someone breathes something, they say it very quietly.
[literary]
'You don't understand,' he breathed. [VERB with quote]
[Also VERB noun]
3. verb [no cont]
If you do not breathe a word about something, you say nothing about it, because it is a secret.
He never breathed a word about our conversation. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: whisper, say, voice, express More Synonyms of breathe
4. verb
If someone breathes life, confidence, or excitement into something, they improve it by adding this quality.
[written]
It is the readers who breathe life into a newspaper with their letters. [VERB noun + into]
Synonyms: instil, inspire, pass on, inject More Synonyms of breathe
5. verb
If you let wine breathe, you open the bottle to allow the air to get in and improve its flavour before you drink it.
Red wines should be allowed to 'breathe' if possible before drinking. [VERB]
6.
See breathe one's last
7. to be breathing down someone's neck
8. to breathe a sigh of relief
Phrasal verbs:
See breathe in
See breathe out
breathe in British English
(briːð)
verb
1.
to take in oxygen from (the surrounding medium, esp air) and give out carbon dioxide; respire
2. (intransitive)
to exist; be alive
every animal that breathes on earth
3. (intransitive)
to rest to regain breath, composure, etc
stop your questions, and give me a chance to breathe
4. (intransitive)
(esp of air) to blow lightly
the wind breathed through the trees
5. (intransitive) machinery
a.
to take in air, esp for combustion
the engine breathes through this air filter
b.
to equalize the pressure within a container, chamber, etc, with atmospheric pressure
the crankcase breathes through this duct
6. (transitive) phonetics
to articulate (a speech sound) without vibration of the vocal cords
Compare voice (sense 20)
7.
to exhale or emit
the dragon breathed fire
8. (transitive)
to impart; instil
to breathe confidence into the actors
9. (transitive)
to speak softly; whisper
to breathe words of love
10. (transitive)
to permit to rest
to breathe a horse
11. (intransitive)
(of a material) to allow air to pass through so that perspiration can evaporate
12. breathe again
13. breathe down someone's neck
14. breathe one's last
Word origin
C13: from breath
breathe in American English
(brið)
verb intransitive, verb transitiveWord forms: breathed or ˈbreathing
1.
a.
to take (air) into the lungs and let it out again; inhale and exhale, esp. easily and naturally
b.
to inhale (in full, breathe in) or exhale (in full, breathe out)
c.
to carry on respiration (sense 2)
2.
to live
3. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
to give out (an odor)
4.
to give out or instill as if by breathing
to breathe confidence
5. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
to blow softly
6.
to speak or sing softly; whisper; murmur
7.
to give or take time to breathe; rest
to breathe a horse
8.
to pant or cause to pant, as from exertion
9.
to react with the air after being opened or decanted and thus develop further in flavor and bouquet
said of wine
10.
to allow the passage of air, water, vapor, etc. through or as through pores
said of fabrics
Idioms:
breathe again
breathe a word
breathe one's last
Derived forms
breathable (ˈbreathable)
adjective
Word origin
ME brethen < breth, breath
More idioms containing
breathe
breathe fire
live and breathe something
not breathe a word
breathe down someone's neck
Examples of 'breathe' in a sentence
breathe
All on this page will breathe new life into old tunes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He also said that the trend could help breathe new life into decaying commercial areas and parades of shops.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I was only breathing the same air as these people.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you were to take out two or three shrubs to let the remainder breathe, what sort of rhythm would be left?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You get to be near your family and grandchildren, which will breathe life into youand give you continual relationships and purpose.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Plants clean the very air we breathe, trapping pollutants, taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
The Sun (2017)
Treatment was out of reach for those without money - a couple of years breathing the champagne air of Switzerland topped the list of remedies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is another reason to breathe easier about your bag for life.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some of them could hardly breathe let alone understand what was happening to them.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Will the album be able to breathe new life into a moribund music industry?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You have the right not to breathe my smoke.
The Sun (2010)
Yet there are unavoidable pollutants in the air we breathe.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She was just about breathing by herself but the breaths were getting slower and slower.
The Sun (2015)
Next time leave space to let your love breathe.
The Sun (2009)
The first series of the drama that breathed new life into the crime procedural concludes tonight.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The doctor said it could have killed you if you had breathed the smoke.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Plants are good for the environment in many respects and clean the very air we breathe.
The Sun (2016)
She can explain things about voices and breathing in great detail.
The Sun (2012)
Let it flex a little and let it breathe.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He wants to atone for forcing people to breathe his cigarette smoke.
The Sun (2006)
We want fierce pride and commitment to be as natural to these folks as the air they breathe.
Kantrow, Alan M. The Constraints of Corporate Tradition (1987)
But that seems a small price for breathing clean air and being able to see the night sky.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Then talk to your boyfriend about how breathe fresh life into your relationship and what changes you both need to make.
The Sun (2014)
This six-part series breathes new life into the classic horror tale.
The Sun (2014)
Can white superstars breathe new life into downbeat Motown?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
breathe
British English: breathe /briːð/ VERB
When people or animals breathe, they take air into their lungs and let it out again.
He stood there breathing deeply and evenly.
No one should have to drive out of town to breathe clean air.
American English: breathe
Arabic: يَتَنَفَّس
Brazilian Portuguese: respirar
Chinese: 呼吸
Croatian: disati
Czech: dýchat
Danish: ånde
Dutch: ademen
European Spanish: respirar
Finnish: hengittää
French: respirer
German: atmen
Greek: αναπνέω
Italian: respirare
Japanese: 息をする
Korean: 숨을 쉬다
Norwegian: puste
Polish: odetchnąć
European Portuguese: respirar
Romanian: a respira
Russian: дышать
Latin American Spanish: respirar
Swedish: andas
Thai: หายใจ
Turkish: nefes almak
Ukrainian: дихати
Vietnamese: thở
All related terms of 'breathe'
breathe in
When you breathe in , you take some air into your lungs .
breathe out
When you breathe out , you send air out of your lungs through your nose or mouth .
breathe again
to feel relief
breathe fire
to be very angry about something
breathe a word
to say something or anything
breathe one's last
When someone breathes their last , they die.
not breathe a word
to not tell anyone about something
live and breathe sth
If you say that someone lives and breathes a particular subject or activity , you are emphasizing that they are extremely enthusiastic about it.
breathe down someone's neck
to be close behind someone in a race, contest , or other competitive situation
sigh of relief to breathe a sigh of relief to heave a sigh of relief
If people breathe or heave a sigh of relief , they feel happy that something unpleasant has not happened or is no longer happening .
to breathe a sigh of relief to heave a sigh of relief
If people breathe or heave a sigh of relief , they feel happy that something unpleasant has not happened or is no longer happening .
Chinese translation of 'breathe'
breathe
(briːð)
vt
[air]呼吸 (hūxī)
(liter, = whisper) 低语(語) (dīyǔ)
vi
呼吸 (hūxī)
I won't breathe a word about it我不会(會)透露一点(點)儿(兒)风(風)声(聲)的 (wǒ bù huì tòulù yīdiǎnr fēngshēng de)
to breathe life into sth给(給)某事带(帶)来(來)活力 (gěi mǒushì dàilái huólì)
All related terms of 'breathe'
breathe in
吸入 xīrù
breathe out
呼出 hūchū
to breathe life into sth
给(給)某事带(帶)来(來)活力 gěi mǒushì dàilái huólì
I won't breathe a word about it
我不会(會)透露一点(點)儿(兒)风(風)声(聲)的 wǒ bù huì tòulù yīdiǎnr fēngshēng de
to breathe or heave a sigh of relief
松(鬆)一口气(氣) sōng yī kǒu qì
1 (verb)
Definition
to take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide
Always breathe through your nose.
Synonyms
inhale and exhale
pant
He was panting with the effort of the climb.
gasp
He gasped for air before being pulled under again.
puff
I could see he was unfit, because he was puffing.
gulp
He slumped back, gulping for air.
wheeze
His chest problems made him wheeze constantly.
respire
draw in breath
2 (verb)
He never breathed a word about our conversation.
Synonyms
whisper
‘Keep your voice down,’ I whispered.
say
I hope you didn't say anything about me.
voice
Scientists have voiced concern that the disease could be passed to humans.
express
He expressed grave concern at their attitude.
sigh
The wind sighed through the valley.
utter
They departed without uttering a word.
articulate
He failed to articulate an overall vision.
murmur
He turned and murmured something to the professor.
3 (verb)
It is the readers who breathe life into a newspaper.
Synonyms
instil
The work instilled a sense of responsibility in the children.
inspire
What inspired you to change your name?
pass on
inject
She kept trying to inject a little fun into the lessons.
impart
the ability to impart knowledge and command respect
infuse
The only solution was to infuse new blood into all our Courts.
imbue
He is able to imbue his listeners with enthusiasm.
phrasal verb
See breathe in
Additional synonyms
in the sense of articulate
Definition
to express coherently in words
He failed to articulate an overall vision.
Synonyms
express,
say,
tell,
state,
word,
speak,
declare,
phrase,
communicate,
assert,
pronounce,
utter,
couch,
put across,
enunciate,
put into words,
verbalize,
asseverate (formal)
in the sense of express
Definition
to state (an idea or feeling) in words
He expressed grave concern at their attitude.
Synonyms
state,
communicate,
convey,
articulate,
say,
tell,
put,
word,
speak,
voice,
declare,
phrase,
assert,
pronounce,
utter,
couch,
put across,
enunciate,
put into words,
give voice to,
verbalize,
asseverate (formal)
in the sense of gasp
Definition
to draw in the breath sharply or with difficulty
He gasped for air before being pulled under again.