breathless

1 of 2

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

breathlessness

2 of 2

noun

breath·​less·​ness

ˈbreth-ləs-nəs

plural -es

1

: the state of being out of breath : a quality making for a breathless condition

2

: dyspnea

Synonyms of breathless

Adjective

• close
• suffocating
• stifling
• stuffy

Examples of breathless in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Before tacos spawned $17 brunchtime objets d’art and before Orange County’s dining scene started receiving some of the breathless national attention usually reserved for Los Angeles and San Francisco, Rafael De Anda was making and selling tacos from a truck in Santa Ana. —Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2026

There’s also much breathless appreciation of the fact that everything in the movie (like Summertime and Kwai) was real, giving the films an immersive quality that’s seldom equaled in the digital age. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026

Contrary to months of breathless headlines, the president’s base never deserted him and continues to punish those who defy him. —Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026

One breathless Iranian pensioner explained how the essential product is now six times more expensive in Iran than in Turkey, amid a spiraling cost-of-living crisis that shows no sign of easing. —Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 13 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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