breather

noun

breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər 

1

: one that breathes

2

: a break in activity for rest or relief

3

: a small vent in an otherwise airtight enclosure

Synonyms of breather

• pause
• lull
• breath
• break

Examples of breather in a Sentence

He decided to give them a breather.

took a breather from the seemingly endless task of sorting through years of stuff stored in the attic

Recent Examples on the Web

There used to be a down season in Edinburgh, when Scotland's capital city—with its beautiful Gothic buildings, cobblestoned Royal Mile, and 12th-century castle keeping watch on a hilltop—caught a slight breather from tourists. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026

When Amazon revealed the Blue Jay system, the company said it was designed to give employees a breather from repetitive physical tasks like reaching for, lifting and stowing items to focus on work like quality control and problem-solving. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026

But some people dare to imagine something bigger and find ways to get a substantial breather from stress or their day-to-day routines. —Colleen Newvine, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026

But some people dare to imagine something bigger and find ways to get a substantial breather from stress or their day-to-day routines. —Colleen Newvine, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for breather

• either
• neither

Kids Definition

breather

noun

breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər 

1

: one that breathes

2

: a pause for rest : break

Medical Definition

breather

noun

breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər 

: one that breathes usually in a specified way see mouth breather