verb (used without object),breathed[breethd], /briðd/, breath·ing.
to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.
(in speech) to control the outgoing breath in producing voice and speech sounds.
to pause, as for breath or rest: How about giving me a chance to breathe?
to move gently or blow lightly, as air.
to live; exist: Hardly a person breathes who has not known great sorrow.
to be redolent or suggestive: a poem breathing of the sights and sounds of a rustic life.
(of a material) to allow air and moisture to pass through easily: The jacket is comfortable because the fabric breathes.
(of the skin) to absorb oxygen and give off perspiration.
(of a wine) to be exposed to air after being uncorked, in order to develop flavor and bouquet.
verb (used with object),breathed[breethd], /briðd/, breath·ing.
to inhale and exhale in respiration.
to exhale: Dragons breathe fire.
to inject as if by breathing; infuse: She breathed life into the party.
to give utterance to; whisper: She breathed a prayer of thanks when everyone escaped the fire unharmed.
to express; manifest: This coming-of-age novel breathes the torments and joys of adolescence.
to allow to rest or recover breath:After this next hill, we should breathe the horses.
to deprive of breath; tire; exhaust.
to cause to pant; exercise.
Idioms for breathe
breathe down someone's neck,
to be close to someone in pursuit; menace; threaten: Police from four states were breathing down his neck.
to watch someone closely so as to supervise or control: If everyone keeps breathing down my neck, how can I get my work done?
breathe freely, to have relief from anxiety, tension, or pressure: Now that the crisis was over, he could breathe freely.Also breathe easily,breathe easy.
breathe one's last, to die: He breathed his last and was buried in the churchyard.
not breathe a word / syllable, to maintain secrecy; keep a matter confidential: I'll tell you if you promise not to breathe a word.
Origin of breathe
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English brethe, brethen, breeth, derivative of breath
SYNONYMS FOR breathe
14 utter, tell, murmur, voice; reveal, divulge.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR breathe ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM breathe
out·breathe,verb (used with object),out·breathed,out·breath·ing.pre·breathe,verb (used with object),pre·breathed,pre·breath·ing.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH breathe
breadth, breath, breathe
Words nearby breathe
breathalyse, Breathalyser, Breathalyzer, breath analyzer, breatharian, breathe, breathed, breathe down someone's neck, breathe easy, breathe life into, breathe one's last
You can find chemicals in the soil under your feet, in the food you eat and in the air you breathe.
Scientists say: Chemical|Bethany Brookshire|September 14, 2020|Science News For Students
Twelve of the 26, including two of the four with signs of inflamed hearts, reported mild symptoms during their infection, such as fever, sore throat, muscle aches and difficulty breathing.
College athletes show signs of possible heart injury after COVID-19|Aimee Cunningham|September 11, 2020|Science News
I keep thinking it can’t get any harder to breathe, and somehow it still does.
Our Climate-Change Future Is Here|Heather Hansman|September 11, 2020|Outside Online
In the future, there’ll probably be plenty of opportunities to breathe on each other again.
The safest ways to exercise during a pandemic|Sara Kiley Watson|September 9, 2020|Popular Science
The less that people can breathe into each other’s faces, the better.
Here’s how COVID-19 is changing classes this year|Bethany Brookshire|September 8, 2020|Science News For Students
“But I could breathe freely only when the plane took off,” she told me.
Russians Plot Exiled Government in Kiev|Anna Nemtsova|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I could not breathe.... When I would pass out, they would shake me and begin again.
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built|Michael Daly|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
JUDNICK: My reaction is so visceral that I immediately, like you, isolate myself so I can breathe.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Protesting|Rawiya Kameir, Judnick Mayard|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It's amazing to think that someone in another country might provide you with 140 characters that allow you to breathe.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Protesting|Rawiya Kameir, Judnick Mayard|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The time for remorse was when my husband was yelling to breathe!
‘I Can’t Breathe!’ ‘I Can’t Breathe!’ A Moral Indictment of Cop Culture|Michael Daly|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Put him there in the hut," said Jim, beginning now to breathe a little more easily.
The Hero of Panama|F. S. Brereton
No, Mary-Ann; I will not threaten you, but breathe their name no more.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105 December 9, 1893|Various
Their incessant turbulence gave Egypt time to breathe and to organise new combinations.
History Of Egypt, Chalda, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 9 (of 12)|G. Maspero
The new-comer spoke first; he spoke rapidly and in a low voice, then grasped Hayoue's hand to breathe on it, and held it fast.
The Delight Makers|Adolf Bandelier
His business takes him into town every day—he goes by motor-car and comes back at night to breathe pure air.
Aladdin of London|Sir Max Pemberton
British Dictionary definitions for breathe
breathe
/ (briːð) /
verb
to take in oxygen from (the surrounding medium, esp air) and give out carbon dioxide; respire
(intr)to exist; be aliveevery animal that breathes on earth
(intr)to rest to regain breath, composure, etcstop your questions, and give me a chance to breathe
(intr)(esp of air) to blow lightlythe wind breathed through the trees
(intr)machinery
to take in air, esp for combustionthe engine breathes through this air filter
to equalize the pressure within a container, chamber, etc, with atmospheric pressurethe crankcase breathes through this duct
(tr)phoneticsto articulate (a speech sound) without vibration of the vocal cordsCompare voice (def. 19)
to exhale or emitthe dragon breathed fire
(tr)to impart; instilto breathe confidence into the actors
(tr)to speak softly; whisperto breathe words of love
(tr)to permit to restto breathe a horse
(intr)(of a material) to allow air to pass through so that perspiration can evaporate
breathe again, breathe freelyorbreathe easilyto feel reliefI could breathe again after passing the exam
breathe down someone's neckto stay close to someone, esp to oversee what they are doingthe cops are breathing down my neck
breathe one's lastto die or be finished or defeated