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

Taylor’s life unfolds as a grand, breathless narrative, and Heymann knows exactly how to keep the pages turning. — Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026

In its breathless finale, Curry races through the mansion reconstructing every murder, flinging himself through doors and corridors while maintaining the verbal precision of a stage actor performing at double speed. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

During most preseasons, updates on freshman talent would be fodder for breathless headlines. — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

In regard to more recent speculation about Kidman’s personal life, her British Vogue interview didn’t address the breathless reports about a possible new man in her life. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 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