breathing space
noun
: some time in which to recover, get organized, or get going
called also breathing room, breathing spell
Examples of breathing space in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The security from that job gave me the breathing space for my mental health to relax.
—
Alex Ritman, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024
The dual writers and actors strikes, while costly to Hollywood, ironically gave Marvel breathing space.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024
In addition to forcing the Saudis to seek a truce, intensified Houthi strikes on Israeli cities help divide Israel’s attention and forces, providing Hamas (another Iran ally) with breathing space.
—Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 29 Jan. 2024
On one hand, the market has been rocked in recent weeks due to the instability in the banking sector, and some respite from the increase of borrowing costs would allow some further breathing space while the dust settled.
—Q.ai - Powering A Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023
The hope now is that this haven of green can offer crucial breathing space to a city ill adapted to heat.
—Juliette Guéron-Gabrielle, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
But the split decision appeared to give the prime minister enough political breathing space to hold off for now.
—Mark Landler, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023
This will help keep airborne particles away from your breathing space.
—Natalie Wallington, Popular Science, 7 June 2023
Never mind that this breathing space was denied to women, Jews, Blacks, and anyone lacking $300,000 for the initiation fee.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 16 June 2023
Alex Ritman, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024
The dual writers and actors strikes, while costly to Hollywood, ironically gave Marvel breathing space.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024
In addition to forcing the Saudis to seek a truce, intensified Houthi strikes on Israeli cities help divide Israel’s attention and forces, providing Hamas (another Iran ally) with breathing space.
—Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 29 Jan. 2024
On one hand, the market has been rocked in recent weeks due to the instability in the banking sector, and some respite from the increase of borrowing costs would allow some further breathing space while the dust settled.
—Q.ai - Powering A Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023
The hope now is that this haven of green can offer crucial breathing space to a city ill adapted to heat.
—Juliette Guéron-Gabrielle, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
But the split decision appeared to give the prime minister enough political breathing space to hold off for now.
—Mark Landler, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023
This will help keep airborne particles away from your breathing space.
—Natalie Wallington, Popular Science, 7 June 2023
Never mind that this breathing space was denied to women, Jews, Blacks, and anyone lacking $300,000 for the initiation fee.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 16 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breathing space.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1545, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to breathing space
Dictionary Entries Near breathing space
Cite this Entry
“Breathing space.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breathing%20space. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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