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 of breathless

• close
• suffocating
• stifling
• stuffy

Examples of breathless in a Sentence

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

There is a lot of breathless talk of autonomous agents reshaping every corner of corporate America, from handling sales calls to writing code to managing supply chains. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026

In the breathless reporting that followed, Barkley publicly denied dating Madonna before the 1993 NBA finals. —Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026

Dappled forests, challenging grades, and an exhilarating final scramble along The Spine, a rocky and narrow route to the summit, will leave you breathless. —Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026

These partnerships, like ones with Vans and Solomons, sell out quickly and become fodder for social media, as well as breathless coverage at legacy publications, including Vogue and the New York Times. —Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for breathless

• deathless

Kids Definition

breathless

adjective

breath·​less ˈbreth-ləs 

1

a

: not breathing

b

: dead entry 1 sense 1

2

a

: panting or gasping for breath

b

: breathtaking sense 1

3

: difficult to bear because of lack of fresh air or breeze

a hot breathless day

breathlessly adverb

breathlessness noun

Medical Definition

breathless

adjective

breath·​less ˈbreth-ləs 

1

: panting or gasping for breath

2

: suffering from dyspnea