Definition of breathtaking
1 : causing one to breathe rapidly or with difficulty : making one out of breath a breathtaking pain in her side
2a : exciting, thrilling a breathtaking raceb : very great : astonishing his breathtaking ignorance
From the M-W Editors
Examples of breathtaking in a Sentence
The train raced past with breathtaking speed.
They gave a breathtaking performance.
The view of the mountains was breathtaking.
a scene of breathtaking beauty
The scope of the error is breathtaking.
Recent Examples of breathtaking from the Web
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In late March, the Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal issued a breathtaking pair of rulings that threatened the foundations of the separation of powers.
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The variety and array of funerary art on display are breathtaking; from hauntingly mournful angels to elaborate urns, anchors, lambs, and crosses symbolizing hope, mercy, forgiveness, and memory.
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The Great Lakes State has historically been celebrated for its breathtaking nature and a devotion to preserving its rich heritage.
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A woman sits on the banks of the Sacramento River near the town of Dunsmuir to enjoy the breathtaking view of Mossbrae Falls.
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Perhaps the least visited of Oregon’s Seven Wonders, the Wallowa Mountains are a breathtaking sight in the northeast corner of the state.
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Now, 12 years later, Jared has avenged his father with a breathtaking forcefulness.
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The opacity of the central woman’s identity, though, feels obfuscatory rather than interestingly mysterious, and much of the male-female partnering is dominated by upside-down swirling lifts that are at first breathtaking, later oddly routine.
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The six-hour trip down the Danube is breathtaking, and the ride should provide a chance to fraternize.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breathtaking'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of breathtaking
1877
BREATHTAKING Defined for English Language Learners
breathtaking
playDefinition of breathtaking for English Language Learners
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: very exciting
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: very great or surprising
BREATHTAKING Defined for Kids
breathtaking
playDefinition of breathtaking for Students
: very exciting or beautiful
Learn More about breathtaking
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See words that rhyme with breathtaking Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for breathtaking Spanish Central: Translation of breathtaking Nglish: Translation of breathtaking for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of breathtaking for Arabic speakers
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