air

noun, often attributive

\ ˈer

Definition of air

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a archaic : breath

b : the mixture of invisible odorless tasteless gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the earth also : the equivalent mix of gases on another planet … the thin, frigid air of Mars. — Stefano S. Coledan

c : a light breeze

2a : empty space

b : nothingness —usually used in the phrases into thin air and out of thin air vanished/disappeared into thin air… nor did any of them seem to have noticed that six people had just melted into thin air in front of them.— J. K. Rowling… jobs can't just be created out of thin air. — The Wall Street Journal

c old-fashioned : a sudden severance of relations She gave me the air.

3 [ probably translation of Italian aria ]

a : tune, melody a lilting air

b Elizabethan & Jacobean music : an accompanied song or melody in usually strophic form

c : the chief voice part or melody in choral music

4a : outward appearance of a thing an air of luxury

b : a surrounding or pervading influence : atmosphere an air of mystery

c : the look, appearance, or bearing of a person especially as expressive of some personal quality or emotion : demeanor an air of dignity

d : an artificial or affected manner put on airs

5 : public utterance He gave air to his opinion.

6 : compressed air

7a(1) : aircraft traveling by air

(2) : aviation air safety air rights

(3) : air force air headquarters

b(1) : the medium of transmission of radio waves also : radio, television went on the air

(2) : airtime

8 : a football offense utilizing primarily the forward pass Trailing by 20 points, the team took to the air.

9 : an air-conditioning system a house with central air

10 : the height achieved in performing an aerial maneuver a snowboarder catching big air also : the maneuver itself

in the air

: being felt or expressed by many people : in wide circulation There was a sense of anticipation in the air.

up in the air

: not yet settled a question that's still up in the air

air

verb

aired; airing; airs

Definition of air (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to expose to the air for drying, purifying, or refreshing : ventilate —often used with out He opened the windows to air out the room.

2 : to expose to public view or bring to public notice aired their complaints

3 : to transmit by radio or television air a program

intransitive verb

1 : to become exposed to the open air The blankets were left outside to air.

2 : to become broadcast a program that airs daily

Other Words from air Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about air

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Synonyms & Antonyms for air

Synonyms: Noun

lay, melody, song, strain, tune, warble

Synonyms: Verb

expound, express, give, look, raise, sound, state, vent, ventilate, voice

Antonyms: Verb

stifle, suppress

Choose the Right Synonym for air

Noun

pose, air, airs, affectation, mannerism mean an adopted way of speaking or behaving. pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others. her shyness was just a pose air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life. a traveler's sophisticated air airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness. snobbish airs affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere. the posh accent is an affectation mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit. gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

Verb

express, vent, utter, voice, broach, air mean to make known what one thinks or feels. express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces. expressed her feelings in music vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words. a tirade venting his frustration utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech. utter a groan voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words. an editorial voicing their concerns broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion. broached the subject of a divorce air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention. publicly airing their differences

Examples of air in a Sentence

Noun

These laws are meant to produce cleaner air. A delicious smell filled the air. I like to dine outdoors in the open air. He can't breathe! Everybody move back and give him some air! High in the mountains the air is thin and it can be hard to breathe. He pumped air into the bicycle tire. The city is wonderful seen from the air. the fish of the sea and the birds of the air The balloon rose up into the air and then floated through the air. There has been heavy fighting on the ground and in the air.

Verb

The blankets were left outside to air. She opened the windows to air the room. The company had a meeting so that employees could air their complaints. The interview will be aired tomorrow. The interview will air tomorrow.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The shell also incorporates fins and a guidance system, allowing it to engage pinpoint targets on land or missiles and aircraft in the air. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The U.S. Navy Quietly Tested Mach 3 Heavy Gun Shells That Could Revolutionize Surface Warfare," 8 Jan. 2019 And thanks to exclusively business class and premium economy long haul flights on Singapore Airlines, spending nearly 19 hours in the air didn't actually suck. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "A Year in Travel 2018: Travelogue Podcast," 28 Dec. 2018 At festivals like Sundance, Cannes, and Toronto, change was in the air. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "The 21 best movies of 2018," 14 Dec. 2018 Guests are transported to the cabin via an open-air sleigh ride and then treated to a five-course meal of exquisite, regionally inspired fare and a menu that is carefully paired with spectacular wines. — Discover Magazine, "The Great Snow of Beaver Creek," 3 Oct. 2018 With the holiday cheer in the air, there's no better way to celebrate the winter season than cozying up on the couch and watching one of Netflix's latest additions: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale. — Jessica Macleish, Teen Vogue, "10 Details in "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale" You Might Have Missed," 14 Dec. 2018 There was a massive amount of smoke, a huge cloud of toxic fumes in the air. — Sarah Hurtes, Harper's BAZAAR, "Women Who Risk Everything to Defend the Environment," 30 Nov. 2018 Sunday was a record day for air travel even with the storm scuttling plans for many travelers, according to the Transportation Security Administration. — Alison Sider, WSJ, "Hundreds of Flights Canceled After Snowstorm Socks the Midwest," 26 Nov. 2018 But [your name] knows air travel is very safe and even safer than driving. — Korin Miller, SELF, "10 Simple But Crucial Ways to Deal With Holiday Travel Stress," 20 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

For those without cable, Macy's has partnered with Verizon to air a 360-degree livestream on YouTube. — Caitlin Morton, Condé Nast Traveler, "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: 2018 Information and Event History," 21 Nov. 2018 Many services like Hulu flip over to a video-on-demand version (often with unskippable ads) soon after a show has aired. — Chris Welch, The Verge, "The Verge Cord Cutter’s Guide: hardware, software, and services," 20 Dec. 2018 After the episode aired, someone from the show delivered a SliceLine pizza to the SliceLife office. — Rolfe Winkler, WSJ, "Actual Silicon Valley Startup Gets Inspiration From HBO’s ‘Silicon Valley’ Startup," 16 Nov. 2018 It's been almost 15 years since the last episode ever aired, but that doesn't mean Friends no longer holds a special place in our hearts. — Yerin Kim, Seventeen, "The ~Ultimate~ "Friends" Trivia Quiz," 13 Nov. 2018 Of course, the surprise was already teased by Sarah Hyland, who plays Haley, during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter right after the Halloween episode aired. — Allie Gemmill, Teen Vogue, ""Modern Family" Revealed Major News for Sarah Hyland's Character Haley," 8 Nov. 2018 Their last baby was born shortly after the pilot aired, meaning it's been a busy (but exciting) year for the family. — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, "Everything You Need to Know About David and Lauren Liess's New DIY Network Show," 6 Nov. 2018 After his concerns aired, the measure’s chief sponsor, Republican Rep. Tom Marino of Pennsylvania, withdrew as President Donald Trump’s drug czar nominee. — Jonathan Mattise, The Seattle Times, "Ex-DEA official says Blackburn had warning on opioid law," 26 Oct. 2018 The French designer created a range of looks for the show, which hit stores after the show aired. — Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Victoria’s Secret Is Collaborating With Mary Katrantzou for This Year’s VS Fashion Show," 5 Oct. 2018

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

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Dictionary Entries near air

Statistics for air

Last Updated

14 Jan 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for air

The first known use of air was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for air

air

noun

English Language Learners Definition of air

(Entry 1 of 2)

: the invisible mixture of gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the Earth and that people and animals breathe

: the space or sky that is filled with air

: methods of travel that involve flying

air

verb

English Language Learners Definition of air (Entry 2 of 2)

: to place something in an open area where there is a lot of moving air to make it cool, dry, or clean

: to allow air from the outside to enter something (such as a room) so that it becomes fresher or cleaner

: to make (something) known in public : to state (something) publicly

See the full definition for air in the English Language Learners Dictionary

air

noun

\ ˈer

Kids Definition of air

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the invisible mixture of odorless tasteless gases that surrounds the earth

2 : the space or sky that is filled with air The balloon rose up into the air.

3 : air that is compressed I filled the car's tires with air.

4 : outward appearance : a quality that a person or thing has He has an air of mystery about him.

5 : aircraft travel by air

6 : aviation sense 1

7 : a radio or television broadcast He gave a speech on the air.

8 airs plural : an artificial way of acting put on airs

air

verb

aired; airing

Kids Definition of air (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to place in the air for cooling, freshening, or cleaning air blankets

2 : to make known in public air complaints

air

noun

\ ˈa(ə)r, ˈe(ə)r

Medical Definition of air

: a mixture of invisible odorless tasteless sound-transmitting gases that is composed by volume chiefly of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0.9 percent argon, 0.03 percent carbon dioxide, varying amounts of water vapor, and minute amounts of rare gases (as helium), that surrounds the earth with half its mass within four miles of the earth's surface, that has a pressure at sea level of about 14.7 pounds per square inch, and that has a density of 1.293 grams per liter at 0°C and 760 mm pressure