breath

noun

ˈbreth 

1

a

: air filled with a fragrance or odor

b

: a slight indication : suggestion

the faintest breath of scandal

2

a

: the faculty of breathing

recovering his breath after the race

b

: an act of breathing

fought to the last breath

c

: opportunity or time to breathe : respite

3

: a slight breeze

4

a

: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing

bad breath

b

: something (such as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breath or breathing

c

: inhalation

5

: a spoken sound : utterance

6

: spirit, animation

see also:

breath of fresh air in one breath out of breath under one's breath

Synonyms of breath

• pause
• lull
• break

Examples of breath in a Sentence

When Oscar Wilde allegedly gestured at the garish wallpaper in his cheap Parisian hotel room and announced with his dying breath, "Either it goes or I go," he was exhibiting something beyond an irrepressibly brilliant wit. —Tom Robbins, Harper's, September 2004

I ski as far as I can and stop (in these relatively low-altitude coastal mountains, you don't stop for breath the way you sometimes do in Colorado; here you stop when your legs demand a break) … —Lito Tejada-Flores, Skiing, February 1999

gum that freshens your breath

It's so cold outside that I can see my breath.

My mad dash for the bus left me gasping for breath.

I took a long breath before speaking again.

Recent Examples on the Web

Andrej Stojaković’s putback attempt rolled around the rim before coming to a dead stop on the back of the basket as everyone in the massive football stadium held their breath and waited for gravity to make a call. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026

State police said Landry showed signs of impairment, and a breath sample indicated a blood alcohol content above the legal limit. —Alexandra Faul, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026

Neighborhood full of grief Family and friends gathered Friday night for a candlelight vigil at the corner where 7-month-old Kaori took her last breath. —Ali Bauman, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026

Children also have higher respiratory rates than adults, as well as larger lung surface area relative to their body size, resulting in higher doses of pollution per breath. —Jill Johnston, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English breth, from Old English brǣth; akin to Old High German brādam breath, and perhaps to Old English beorma yeast — more at barm

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing breath

• baby's breath
• bad breath
• breath of fresh air
• breath test
• breath work
• catch one's breath
• draw breath
• fight for breath
• fighting/struggling for breath
• gets short of breath
• hold one's breath
• in one breath
• in the same breath
• last/dying breath
• morning breath
• on one's breath
• out of breath
• pant for breath
• shortness of breath
• short of breath
• take a breath
• take a deep breath
• take one's breath away
• take someone's breath away
• under one's breath
• waste one's breath
• with bated breath

Rhymes for breath

• beth
• death
• heth
• lethe
• meth
• seth
• sheth
• sneath
• shibboleth

Kids Definition

breath

noun

ˈbreth 

1

a

: air filled with a fragrance or odor

b

: a slight indication : suggestion

a faint breath of scandal

2

a

: the ability to breathe

b

: an act of breathing

c

: breather sense 2

3

: a slight breeze

4

a

: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing

b

: something (as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breathing

5

: a spoken sound

Medical Definition

breath

noun

ˈbreth 

1

a

: the faculty of breathing

recovering her breath after the race

b

: an act or an instance of breathing or inhaling

2

a

: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing

bad breath

b

: something (as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breath or breathing