breathless

adjective

breath·​less ˈbreth-ləs 

1

a

: not breathing

b

: dead

2

a

: panting or gasping for breath

b

: gripped with emotion

breathless in anticipation

c

: intense, gripping

breathless eagerness

breathless prose

d

: very rapid or strenuous

go at a breathless pace

e

: marked by intense or unremitting activity

a breathless schedule

3

: oppressive because of no fresh air or breeze

breathlessly adverb

breathlessness noun

Synonyms of breathless

• close
• suffocating
• stifling
• stuffy

Examples of breathless in a Sentence

They were breathless with anticipation.

I watched them in breathless wonder.

She describes the scene in breathless prose.

He drove at a breathless pace.

Recent Examples on the Web

After a few breathless seconds, the man regains his composure. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026

In the minute-long spot, Scott commands a room of soldiers — among them Tom Holland’s Telemachus and Jon Bernthal’s Menelaus — before launching into a breathless retelling of Odysseus, the Trojan War and the infamous trick that brought Troy down. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026

Braga’s goal came 10 breathless minutes later. —Michael Walker, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026

However, in comparison to the breathless enthusiasm of previous years, the talk was centered firmly on value. —Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for breathless

• deathless

Kids Definition

breathless

adjective

breath·​less ˈbreth-ləs 

1

a

: not breathing

b

: dead entry 1 sense 1

2

a

: panting or gasping for breath

b

: breathtaking sense 1

3

: difficult to bear because of lack of fresh air or breeze

a hot breathless day

breathlessly adverb

breathlessness noun

Medical Definition

breathless

adjective

breath·​less ˈbreth-ləs 

1

: panting or gasping for breath

2

: suffering from dyspnea