breath

noun

ˈbreth 

1

a

: air filled with a fragrance or odor

b

: a slight indication : suggestion

the faintest breath of scandal

2

a

: the faculty of breathing

recovering his breath after the race

b

: an act of breathing

fought to the last breath

c

: opportunity or time to breathe : respite

3

: a slight breeze

4

a

: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing

bad breath

b

: something (such as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breath or breathing

c

: inhalation

5

: a spoken sound : utterance

6

: spirit, animation

see also:

breath of fresh air catch one's breath hold one's breath in one breath out of breath under one's breath waste one's breath

Synonyms of breath

• pause
• lull
• break

Examples of breath in a Sentence

When Oscar Wilde allegedly gestured at the garish wallpaper in his cheap Parisian hotel room and announced with his dying breath, "Either it goes or I go," he was exhibiting something beyond an irrepressibly brilliant wit. —Tom Robbins, Harper's, September 2004

I ski as far as I can and stop (in these relatively low-altitude coastal mountains, you don't stop for breath the way you sometimes do in Colorado; here you stop when your legs demand a break) … —Lito Tejada-Flores, Skiing, February 1999

gum that freshens your breath

It's so cold outside that I can see my breath.

My mad dash for the bus left me gasping for breath.

I took a long breath before speaking again.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ratledge is looking like an ascending player in his second year, mentioned in the same breath as core players by coach Dan Campbell. — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Their disparate worldviews come to bear on an outcome that will leave readers holding their breath in anticipation. — Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Now, the next spectacle to take our breath away will be Roman's very first images of the universe. — Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026

The days of breathing rescue breaths into a patient’s mouth are over. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English breth, from Old English brǣth; akin to Old High German brādam breath, and perhaps to Old English beorma yeast — more at barm

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing breath

• baby's breath
• bad breath
• breath of fresh air
• breath test
• breath work
• catch one's breath
• draw breath
• fight for breath
• fighting/struggling for breath
• gets short of breath
• hold one's breath
• in one breath
• in the same breath
• last/dying breath
• morning breath
• on one's breath
• out of breath
• pant for breath
• shortness of breath
• short of breath
• take a breath
• take a deep breath
• take one's breath away
• take someone's breath away
• under one's breath
• waste one's breath
• with bated breath

Rhymes for breath

• beth
• death
• heth
• lethe
• meth
• neath
• seth
• sheth
• sneath
• shibboleth

Kids Definition

breath

noun

ˈbreth 

1

a

: air filled with a fragrance or odor

b

: a slight indication : suggestion

a faint breath of scandal

2

a

: the ability to breathe

b

: an act of breathing

c

: breather sense 2

3

: a slight breeze

4

a

: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing

b

: something (as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breathing

5

: a spoken sound

Medical Definition

breath

noun

ˈbreth 

1

a

: the faculty of breathing

recovering her breath after the race

b

: an act or an instance of breathing or inhaling

2

a

: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing

bad breath

b

: something (as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breath or breathing