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

Ford’s airtight thriller marks some of the finest work done by those on either side of the camera, blending breathless thrills and effortless character work. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026

After police arrived, the family’s breathless au pair shared a harrowing story with them outside in the driveway. —Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026

And not just to Nicole Kidman, but to the sort of beloved, big-name and award-winning actor whose presence in a new streaming show or HBO mini used to be cause for breathless excitement. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026

The anxious commentary, the breathless headlines asking whether the Dubai dream is over, the analysts debating the fate of the safe-haven brand are a measure of what was built. —Bobby Ghosh, Time, 8 Apr. 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