breathe

verb

ˈbrēt͟h 

breathed; breathing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to draw air into and expel it from the lungs : respire

broadly : to take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide through natural processes

b

: to inhale and exhale freely

2

: to blow softly

3

: live

4

: to pause and rest before continuing

5

: to feel free of restraint

needs room to breathe

6

a

: to permit passage of air or vapor

a fabric that breathes

b

of an internal combustion engine : to use air to support combustion

c

: to be cooled or dried by air that passes by or through

clothing that allows your skin to breathe

7

of wine : to develop flavor and bouquet by exposure to air

8

a

: to become perceptible : be expressed

a personality that breathes and that distinguishes his work

—Bennett Schiff

b

obsolete : to emit a fragrance or aura

transitive verb

1

: to inhale and exhale

breathe air

2

a

: to send out by exhaling

b

: to instill by or as if by breathing

breathe new life into the movement

3

: to take in in breathing

breathe the scent of pines

4

a

: utter, express

don't breathe a word of it to anyone

b

: to make manifest : evince

the novel breathes despair

5

: to give rest from exertion to

6

: to spend a great deal of time, thought, or effort on (something) : to be wholly devoted to (some interest or activity)

The Virginia native may not breathe basketball 24-7 … but during games and practice, his focus is second to none.

—Robbi Pickeral

As with visiting companies, one of the key reasons for going to conferences is to avoid the tunnel vision that can overcome managers who live and breathe their business.

—Leslie Brokaw

Phrases

breathe down one's neck

1

: to threaten especially in attack or pursuit

2

: to keep one under close or constant surveillance

parents always breathing down his neck

breathe easy or breathe easier or breathe easily or breathe freely

: to enjoy relief (as from pressure or danger)

Synonyms

• respire
• snore

Examples of breathe in a Sentence

No one was more grief-stricken by Lincoln's assassination than Stanton, who spoke the imperishable words as the president breathed his last: "Now he belongs to the ages." —James M. McPherson, New York Times Book Review, 6 Nov. 2005

… The tinder burned all right, but that was as far as I got. I blew on it, I breathed on it, I cupped it in my hands, but no sooner did I add twigs than the whole thing went black. —Jean Craighead George, My Side of the Mountain, (1959) 2001

However, liquid nitrogen is not used for higher levels of fog because breathing this substance is unsafe. Dry ice is a safer material, and can be used either at ground level or higher. —Patricia D. Netzley, Encylopedia Of Movie Special Effects, 2000

Earth is surrounded by a life-giving gaseous envelope called the atmosphere. This thin blanket of air is an integral part of the planet. It not only provides the air that we breathe but also acts to protect us from the dangerous radiation emitted by the Sun. —Frederick K. Lutgens et al., The Atmosphere, 1979/2001

He was breathing hard from running.

The patient suddenly stopped breathing.

I can hardly breathe with all this smoke.

He wants to live where he can breathe clean air.

a dragon that breathes fire

People usually contract the virus by breathing contaminated air.

Breathe deeply and then exhale.

I'll never give up as long as I'm still breathing.

a living, breathing human being

Recent Examples on the Web

The crypto industry, considering its reputation for disrupting the legacy system, is actually breathing life back into it. —Christopher Perkins, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Rising temperatures, amplified by climate change, are contributing to an increase in cases of sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. —Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 30 June 2025

Even breathing the toxic air these blooms produce can be harmful. —Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 29 June 2025

The healthiest relationships give you room to breathe. —Mark Travers, CNBC, 29 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English brethen, from breth — see breath

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing breathe

• breathe a sigh of relief
• breathe down one's neck
• breathe down someone's neck
• breathe (new) life into
• breathe one's last
• live and breathe
• not say/breathe a word

Rhymes for breathe

• seethe

Kids Definition

breathe

verb

ˈbrēt͟h 

breathed; breathing

1

: to draw air into and expel it from the lungs

2

: live entry 1 sense 1

3

: to blow softly

4

: to send out by exhaling

breathe a sigh of relief

5

: to bring by or as if by breathing

breathe new life into the movement

6

: to say quietly or softly

don't breathe a word to anybody

7

: to allow to rest after hard work

breathe a horse

8

: to take in in breathing

breathe the scent of roses

9

: to allow air or moisture to pass through

a fabric that breathes

breathable

ˈbrē-t͟hə-bəl

adjective

Medical Definition

breathe

verb

ˈbrēt͟h 

breathed; breathing

intransitive verb

1

: to draw air into and expel it from the lungs : respire

broadly : to take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide through natural processes

2

: to inhale and exhale freely

transitive verb

: to inhale and exhale

breathing fresh air