breathless
adjective
breath·less ˈbreth-ləs 
1
a
: not breathing
b
: dead
2
a
: panting or gasping for breath
b
: gripped with emotion
breathless in anticipation
c
: intense, gripping
breathless eagerness
breathless prose
d
: very rapid or strenuous
go at a breathless pace
e
: marked by intense or unremitting activity
a breathless schedule
3
: oppressive because of no fresh air or breeze
breathlessly adverb
breathlessness noun
Synonyms
- close
- stifling
- stuffy
- suffocating
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They were breathless with anticipation. I watched them in breathless wonder. She describes the scene in breathless prose. He drove at a breathless pace.
Recent Examples on the Web The Sky regained control amid a breathless third quarter, but the Liberty never fell behind by more than seven points. 
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2022 One of the children didn't have a pulse and was also breathless, and officials conducted CPR on the individual. Adam Sabes, Fox News, 13 July 2022 His videos are often breathless reports with graphic footage of dead bodies, violence for which Lancaster claims Ukraine is responsible. Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 8 June 2022 City and Liverpool played out a breathless 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last week, in what was an exhibition of football at the top level. James Nalton, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022 Sections are told entirely via email, or as an increasingly unhinged handbook for prospective female spies; another pours out in the breathless confessional rush of a teenage girl with one finger on the caps lock key. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2022 By the time the breathless series of misfortune ended, the Bruins’ three-point lead had been transformed into a five-point deficit. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2022 Dennis Duncan’s breathless description of his encounter with a 15th-century volume in an Oxford library offers an indication of his enthusiasm for the subject of his new book. Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Mar. 2022 Eddy and Kaplan match them for heat, but a couple of their breathless declarations of love for each other sound like two MFA students’ attempt at improv theater. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2022 See More
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2022 One of the children didn't have a pulse and was also breathless, and officials conducted CPR on the individual. Adam Sabes, Fox News, 13 July 2022 His videos are often breathless reports with graphic footage of dead bodies, violence for which Lancaster claims Ukraine is responsible. Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 8 June 2022 City and Liverpool played out a breathless 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last week, in what was an exhibition of football at the top level. James Nalton, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022 Sections are told entirely via email, or as an increasingly unhinged handbook for prospective female spies; another pours out in the breathless confessional rush of a teenage girl with one finger on the caps lock key. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2022 By the time the breathless series of misfortune ended, the Bruins’ three-point lead had been transformed into a five-point deficit. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2022 Dennis Duncan’s breathless description of his encounter with a 15th-century volume in an Oxford library offers an indication of his enthusiasm for the subject of his new book. Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Mar. 2022 Eddy and Kaplan match them for heat, but a couple of their breathless declarations of love for each other sound like two MFA students’ attempt at improv theater. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
breathless
adjective
breath·less ˈbreth-ləs
1
: panting from exertion
2
: filled with excitement or tension
a breathless silence
Medical Definition
breathless
adjective
breath·less ˈbreth-ləs
1
: panting or gasping for breath
2
: suffering from dyspnea
breathless
adjective
1
as in suffocating
lacking fresh air the room was hot and breathless Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- suffocating
- close
- stifling
- stuffy
- thick
- heavy
- airless
- fuggy
- oppressive
- unventilated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- breezy
- sweet
- airy
- brisk
- refreshing
- bracing
- invigorating
- refreshed
- reviving
- unstuffy
- restorative
- ventilated
2
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed ran at a breathless pace to get help Synonyms & Similar Words
- rapid
- galloping
- brisk
- quick
- fast
- whirlwind
- swift
- hurried
- dizzy
- rattling
- breakneck
- hasty
- blistering
- hot
- flying
- speedy
- lightning
- rushed
- rapid-fire
- snappy
- zippy
- breathtaking
- accelerated
- splitting
- fleet
- at speed
- rush
- vigorous
- fleet-footed
- quickened
- hastened
- nippy
- ready
- expeditious
- strong
- prompt
- energetic
- strenuous
- ultrafast
- high-speed
- ultrarapid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slow
- languid
- sluggish
- unhurried
- plodding
- lingering
- crawling
- dragging
- leisurely
- pokey
- deliberate
- poky
- laggard
- dallying
- tardy
- dawdling
- late
- dilatory
- measured
- slowish
- dillydallying
- poking
- ultraslow
3
as in fallen
no longer living carried the breathless body of his beloved dog back home Synonyms & Similar Words
- fallen
- dead
- lifeless
- asleep
- late
- low
- dying
- cold
- deceased
- gone
- departed
- extinct
- bitten the dust
- demised
- defunct
- fading
- moribund
- insensate
- finished
- lapsed
- terminated
- stillborn
- inanimate
- nonliving
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- breathing
- quick
- live
- alive
- living
- going
- dynamic
- lively
- vibrant
- active
- vital
- animated
- animate
- operative
- vivacious
- functioning
- thriving
- running