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

Take a breather by the beach, where days are made for lingering on golden sands, discovering hidden coves, and relaxing to the tune of the rolling Mediterranean tide. — Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026

The bond market is taking a breather after a run up in yields to start the week. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

That reflects Jim Cramer's preference for CrowdStrike, which was down 6% on Wednesday as the entire cyber group took a breather. — Jeff Marks,matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Prior’s trip amounted to more of a breather than anything else, as the Dodgers could not afford the inning falling apart. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 26 Aug. 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