breath

noun

ˈbreth How to pronounce breath (audio)
Definition of breathnext
1
as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity let's all take a breath before continuing this discussion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in breeze
a slight or gentle movement of air a sweet breath caressed her cheek as she sat in the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something the mornings are already getting warmer, and there is a breath of spring in the air

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of breath Police found several alcoholic beverages in Gonzalez’s car, and officers at the scene said that his breath smelled of alcohol, his speech was slurred, and his eyes were red and watery. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026 The next day, the couple met in the church aisles of Huayllabamba amongst delicate arrangements of baby’s breath. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026 The rooms With just 17 airy and spacious rooms, the Sea Ranch gives every guest plenty of room to breathe, and the interiors are laid out to make every breath a meditative one. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026 Police believe she was knocked to the ground and could be heard gasping for breath and sobbing before the video ended, the warrant affidavit said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for breath
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breath
  1. pause
  2. breeze
  3. hint
  4. lull
  5. puff
  6. glimmer
  7. break
  8. flicker
Noun
  • Leave a little room for the exchange instead of treating every pause as a delay.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Own what went wrong, eliminate unnecessary meetings, pause distractions and focus on what matters.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of pause
Noun
  • Even by Los Angeles standards, the weather on Sunday, July 9, 2023, was almost impossibly perfect—sunshine, low 70s, and a cool breeze—as if Hollywood itself has been dropped into the fantasy world of Barbie Land.
    — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Each one features a discreet zipper for a streamlined look, plus a wide opening that makes pillow insertion a breeze.
    — Kate Boswell, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of breeze
Noun
  • Not long ago, broadcasters avoided even a hint of gambling conversation.
    — New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Dylan Carden, an equity analyst for William Blair, wrote in a note published Friday that Under Armour’s results give few hints as to when a recovery could be expected for the company.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of hint
Noun
  • Wild Horse Nine lives or dies by the Mutt & Jeff chemistry of its leads, both of whom keep the proceedings propped up in between plot points and temporary pacing lulls.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Capcom was in a similar lull after 2012’s disappointing Resident Evil 6, a bloated and confusing entry that made players fear the end of the series.
    — Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of lull
Noun
  • The woman laughs every now and then and the man begins to almost sing between his puffs on his beedi.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
  • His signature silhouettes included the tricolor stay-at-home puff coat and lacy slipdresses that could be worn as eveningwear.
    — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of puff
Noun
  • After two years in power-play purgatory under assistant coach Newell Brown, during which the Kings placed 29th cumulatively, there’s finally a glimmer of hope for the power play with first-time NHL assistant Ray Whitney.
    — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Wednesday’s loss didn’t have a glimmer of a comeback, resulting in an exhausting slog toward the final margin.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Noun
  • Phillips caught a bad break when her approach to the green hit a tree branch on its upward flight and dropped 20 yards short of the green.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Erin Daly said the anxiety was already building at the start of summer break.
    — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of break
Noun
  • What a bravura little moment for Sarah Lancashire in this scene, as surprise, irritation, and resignation flicker across her face.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Yet Rafael, willing and even eager to die for his antifascist principles, returns Sebastián’s gaze without flinching, and with a sense of rebuke that is complicated by unspoken yet unmistakable flickers of desire.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of flicker

Phrases Containing breath

Browse Nearby Words

breastworks
breath
breathable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breath.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breath. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of wabi-sabi

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All