aerobic

adjective aer·o·bic \ ˌer-ˈō-bik \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: aerobic in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of aerobic

1 : living, active, or occurring only in the presence of oxygen

aerobic respiration

2 : of, relating to, or induced by aerobes

aerobic fermentation

3 a : of, relating to, or being activity which increases the body's demand for oxygen thereby resulting in marked temporary increase in respiration and heart rate

stationary bicycles used for aerobic conditioning

an aerobic workout

Aerobic exercise involves pushing your heart rate to 70% to 85% of its maximum, and keeping it there for 20 to 60 minutes at a time.
—Tara Parker-Pope

b : of or relating to the body's ability to consume oxygen during exercise

… the average exerciser can skip a couple of weeks without experiencing declines in aerobic capacity or the ability of the heart and lungs to supply the muscles with oxygen …
—Consumer Reports on Health

c : relating to, resulting from, or used in aerobics or aerobic activity

aerobic equipment

—

aerobically

play \-bi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See aerobic defined for English-language learners

See aerobic defined for kids

Examples of aerobic in a Sentence

aerobic exercises like running and swimming
aerobic organisms such as bacteria

Recent Examples of aerobic from the Web

Researchers examined 17,989 men and women, average age 50, from 1971 to 2009, gathering health and behavioral information, including data on aerobic fitness.

— nicholas bakalar, New York Times, "Midlife Fitness May Protect Against Later Depression," 27 June 2018
The workout combined bright leotards and upbeat dance music with aerobic exercise.

— USA TODAY, "The biggest exercise fad the year you were born," 12 July 2018
One of its goals was to increase the proportion of people engage in aerobic physical activity on a regular basis.

— tess strokes, Outside Online, "Trading Football for Fat Tires in Mississippi," 6 June 2018
Get 150 or more minutes of aerobic activity (interval walking; cycling; etc.) weekly.

— Houston Chronicle, "10 steps to protect your heart, brain and body from disease and premature aging," 20 May 2018
The grade allows most to get into aerobic rhythm and hike it slow and steady.

— tom stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Mount Eddy’s ‘reveal moment’ of giant Shasta," 5 July 2018
Check out your local senior center for physical exercise programs geared specifically for older people such as aerobic fitness & body toning, yoga, ballroom dance and Zumba.

— cassie armstrong, OrlandoSentinel.com, "National Senior Health & Fitness Day: How to celebrate in Central Florida," 30 May 2018
Their aerobic capacities were measured by having them ride a specialized stationary bicycle to exhaustion; fitness levels among the subjects varied greatly.

— gretchen reynolds, New York Times, "How Exercise Can Help You Recall Words," 15 May 2018
Increasingly, physicians are prescribing aerobic exercise to patients suffering from these conditions.

— martin fritz huber, Outside Online, "The Invisible Benefits of Running," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aerobic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Aerobic exercise is exercise that takes an extended amount of time—usually ten minutes or more—but is usually performed at only moderate intensity. Running, swimming, bicycling, and cross-country skiing are classic aerobic exercises. In 1968 a best-selling book called Aerobics introduced a system of exercise for increasing the body's ability to take in and use oxygen, and today aerobics classes, often mimicking such outdoor exercise as running and bicycling, take place every afternoon in thousands of gyms and YMCAs across the country. Aerobic exercise particularly strengthens the heart and lungs, but usually has many other good effects as well. Aerobic bacteria, which need oxygen to live, are essential for breaking down living matter so that it returns to the soil. They include the famous intestinal E. coli, as well as the staph and strep bacteria that can make a visit to the hospital risky.

Origin and Etymology of aerobic

French aérobie "living only in the presence of oxygen" + ¹-ic — more at aerobe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1875

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

AEROBIC Defined for English Language Learners

aerobic

adjective

Definition of aerobic for English Language Learners

of exercise : strengthening the heart and lungs by making them work hard for several minutes or more
: using oxygen

Medical Dictionary

aerobic

adjective aer·o·bic \ ˌa(-ə)r-ˈō-bik, ˌe(-ə)r- \

medical Definition of aerobic

1 : living, active, or occurring only in the presence of oxygen

aerobic respiration

2 : of, relating to, or induced by aerobes

aerobic fermentation

3 a : of, relating to, or being activity which increases the body's demand for oxygen thereby resulting in a marked temporary increase in respiration and heart rate