air

noun, often attributive

\ ˈer

Definition of air

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

b : a light breeze

c archaic : breath

2a(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

3a : 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

4a : 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

b : empty space

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

5 [probably translation of Italian aria]

a : tune, melody a lilting air

b : the chief voice part or melody in choral music

c Elizabethan and Jacobean music : an accompanied song or melody in usually strophic form

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

7 : public utterance He gave air to his opinion.

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

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

10 : compressed air

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 Phrases Containing air Learn More About air

Synonyms & Antonyms for air

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Verb

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Noise mitigation barriers will be erected, and noise and air pollution will be monitored. — Omar Abdel-baqui, WSJ, 5 May 2022 That sense of international responsibility doesn't only extend to planes in the air. — Lilit Marcus, Cnn; Video By Max Burnell, CNN, 5 May 2022 The helicopter was returning from a flight Aug. 31 — its third of the day, the Navy said — and showed no signs of mechanical problems in the air, the investigation found. — Andrew Dyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2022 Overall, by using eVTOLs for these purposes, the goal is to help move both people and goods while decarbonizing transportation and cutting down on air pollution and congestion. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 May 2022 Four in 10 Americans currently live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the annual State of the Air report by the American Lung Foundation. — Sofia Lotto Persio, Forbes, 30 Apr. 2022 The days of depending on dictators to light up our homes would be behind us, and a future with less air pollution would lie ahead. — Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2022 The project was funded by Assembly Bill 617, a law passed in 2017 meant to lessen the inequality of air pollution in cities across the state. — Justin Raystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2022 There are all these technologies, including solar and wind, which don’t release a toxic stew of air pollution. — Meghana Indurti, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Peacock has held the official broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest for the U.S. since 2019, and it’s been confirmed that the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest will air live (and on-demand replay) on Peacock once again. — Sage Anderson, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2022 The game in Mexico City will air on ESPN with Monday Night Football’s new announcer booth of Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (analyst) calling the action. — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2022 The ceremony is set for Nov. 5 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and will air later on HBO and HBO Max. — Rodney Ho, ajc, 4 May 2022 The induction ceremony is set to be held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on November 5 and will air at a later date on HBO and HBO Max, which are owned by CNN’s parent company. — Lisa Respers France, CNN, 4 May 2022 But all future Obi-Wan Kenobi episodes will air on Wednesdays as originally planned, the franchise confirmed on its website. — Dan Heching, PEOPLE.com, 4 May 2022 The first three episodes will be released Thursday, and new ones will air weekly through the June 9 finale. — Danielle Directo-meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 May 2022 Cox said that the nonprofit also plans to fundraise in the near future, raising money for things like a water bottle refilling station and a station where people could air up their tires or use tools to make minor bike repairs. — Megan Rodriguez, San Antonio Express-News, 2 May 2022 Not long after, the This Is Us series finale will air on May 24, where hopefully all remaining questions will be answered. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, 27 Apr. 2022 See More

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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Last Updated

8 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air. Accessed 17 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for air

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