pant

1 of 5

verb

panted; panting; pants

intransitive verb

1
a
: to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner
b
: to run panting
c
: to move with or make a throbbing or puffing sound
2
: to long eagerly : yearn
3

transitive verb

: to utter with panting : gasp

pant

2 of 5

noun

1
a
: a panting breath
b
: the visible movement of the chest accompanying such a breath
2
: a throbbing or puffing sound

pant

3 of 5

variant of pants sense 1

pant

4 of 5

adjective

: of or relating to pants
a pant leg

pant-

5 of 5

combining form

variants or panto-
: all
pantisocracy

Examples of pant in a Sentence

Verb Dogs pant when they are hot. The hikers were panting by the time they reached the top of the hill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
As the dog panted and scarfed down a sandwich, Sweeney refused to break character, demonstrating a level of dedication that sometimes even cast members can’t muster. Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2024 Theo shoved the things into her pillowcase and got to the front door, panting. Addie Citchens, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 Men’s Waffle Knit Pants A good pair of pants has the potential to transform your travel experience, which is exactly what these Waffle Knit pants from Cozy Earth aim to do. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024 Joey suggests using baby powder and lotion, which leads to exactly what this vinyl figurine depicts: Ross pants down with powder all over his black ensemble. Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023 As seen on a video published by the BBC on Sunday, two women got in front of the crowd looking at the famous Leonardo da Vinci panting and threw soup at it. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024 The Drop Catalina Pull-on Sweater Pant Pair the Catalina pants with the matching Clancy Drawstring Hoodie for a coordinated airport look that’s effortlessly stylish and optimally comfortable. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2024 This behavior isn’t exactly a sign of aggression — alligators open their mouths to regulate their temperature, like panting dogs. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 17 Jan. 2024 Fielder spends most of the episode panting and struggling. Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
Noun
Which pants are best for hiking is really a matter of personal preference, with options ranging from lightweight cargo pants with plenty of pockets to convertible pants that transform into shorts in a matter of seconds. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024 Desert Diamond Arena dress code Guests are required to wear a shirt, pants/shorts and shoes at all times. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024 Find these flowy pants in various designs and styles, from high-waisted to cropped, to suit every body type. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2024 Optic white Schiaparelli pants (Maison Schiaparelli, 21 place Vendôme 75001, Paris) provide a grounding force. Campbell Addy, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024 The mix-and-match items are all pillowy soft and consist of pants, tops, jackets, and jumpsuits. Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2024 One of Shook’s shoes was entangled inside the pants, which Deputy District Attorney Shane Waller said was consistent with the pants being forcibly removed. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024 The colored pants were another big thing and his sandals. Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024 Her wide leg black pants and white button down paired with a bow tie was chef’s kiss. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 17 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French panteiser, from Vulgar Latin *phantasiare to have hallucinations, from Greek phantasioun, from phantasia appearance, imagination — more at fancy

Combining form

Greek, from pant-, pas — more at pan-

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pant was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pant

Cite this Entry

“Pant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pant. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pant

verb
ˈpant
1
a
: to breathe hard or quickly : gasp
b
: to make a puffing sound
c
: to move forward with panting
the car panted up the hill
2
: to wish for eagerly : yearn
3
: to utter with panting
ran up and panted out the message
pant noun

Medical Definition

pant

intransitive verb
: to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner

More from Merriam-Webster on pant

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