breathtaking

adjective

breath·​tak·​ing ˈbreth-ˌtā-kiŋ 

1

: causing one to breathe rapidly or with difficulty : making one out of breath

a breathtaking pain in her side

2

a

: exciting, thrilling

a breathtaking race

b

: very great : astonishing

his breathtaking ignorance

breathtakingly

ˈbreth-ˌtā-kiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of breathtaking

• exciting
• thrilling
• interesting
• intriguing
• inspiring

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 on the Web

Esther Lee, the editorial director at The Knot Worldwide, detailed the jaw-dropping costs behind converting New York City’s iconic arena, Madison Square Garden, into a breathtaking wedding venue for more than 1,000 guests. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 10 July 2026

How do boards understand the new set of risks posed by the integration of the physical with the breathtaking capabilities of world models? — Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026

Even with my naked eye, the resolution of the IMAX DMR printed image was absolutely breathtaking. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 8 July 2026

Drives along this nearly seven-mile stretch between Los Padres National Forest and the Ventana Wilderness Area offer breathtaking ocean views and classic stops like cliffside restaurant Nepenthe and cozy Deetjen's Big Sur Inn. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for breathtaking

• awaking
• backbreaking
• bookmaking
• brickmaking
• caretaking
• dressmaking
• filmmaking
• forsaking
• glassmaking
• groundbreaking
• haymaking
• heartbreaking

Kids Definition

breathtaking

adjective

breath·​tak·​ing ˈbreth-ˌtā-kiŋ 

1

: making one out of breath

breathtaking speed

2

: exciting, thrilling

breathtaking beauty

breathtakingly

-kiŋ-lē 

adverb