breathe

verb

\ ˈbrēt͟h

breathed; breathing

Definition of breathe

1a : 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

6a : 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

8a : 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

2a : 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

4a : 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

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 More Example Sentences Learn More about breathe

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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

But more support from his teammates gives Nani more room to breathe and create. — Julia Poe, Pro Soccer USA, "Nani praises growth of Orlando City as the captain flourishes in final stretch of season," 17 Sep. 2019 Most are otherwise healthy people — from teenagers to people in their 70s — who suddenly develop severe trouble breathing, cough, fever and chest pain. — Erika Edwards, NBC News, "Addiction experts concerned that existing treatments aren't enough for vaping teens," 12 Sep. 2019 Some have required the assistance of a ventilator to breathe. — Lauren Caruba, ExpressNews.com, "‘These are 20-year-olds’: Vaping-related illnesses surface at San Antonio hospitals," 12 Sep. 2019 The Oregon resident who died while fighting the lung disease first went to a Portland emergency room after suddenly having trouble breathing. — oregonlive, "Exclusive: Lung doctors tell why and how Oregon vaping victim died," 11 Sep. 2019 Misters, placed on the outside of the tube, further lubricate the interior with water and allow the fish to breathe. — Eli Francovich, The Seattle Times, "More than a viral sensation, the Salmon Cannon could bring the species back to the Upper Columbia after 90 years," 19 Aug. 2019 The 26-year-old Burlington man was having trouble breathing. — Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'I don't want somebody else's son to end up like this': Family of Burlington man hospitalized with lung injuries warns of vaping dangers," 14 Aug. 2019 The blow was so bad that Perry started having trouble breathing and ended up being hospitalized, the UFC on ESPN+ 14 post-show confirmed. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN, "UFC fighter Mike Perry just got his nose shattered," 11 Aug. 2019 Think of it as a palate cleanser: by bringing the stakes back down to Earth, Tokyo Drift is allowed to breathe and have more personality. — Peter Opaskar, Ars Technica, "What I learned about cars watching all 8 Fast & Furious movies in 4 days," 2 Aug. 2019

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