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

Are the Lomans meant to be Irish immigrants or is that a Boston dialect that is being affected when the cartoonish New Yorkese takes a breather? —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026

Preseason games are dress rehearsals for most teams anyway, and a second bye week would help players get healthier and get a breather in the midst of the battle. —Ernesto Cova, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026

Back at Mill Creek Park, amid a crowd of protesters taking a breather after the march, one demonstrator flies a kite. —Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026

Heading into one of their longer breaks of the season, the Minnesota Wild looked like a team in need of a breather on Saturday. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing breather

• mouth breather

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