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

His comments came after the relentless rally in technology stocks took a breather. — Yun Li, CNBC, 27 July 2026

The headlong pacing allows nary a breather, though there are enough wry notes, character quirks and offbeat details (remote-control doors, goats, a knife fight on a waterbed) to prevent macho monotony from setting in. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026

Couches provide a cozy aesthetic, and a way for artists to change up their set and take a breather. — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026

Catalina Island is the perfect place to take a breather, just over an hour by ferry from the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, among departure points along the SoCal coast. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 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