exhale

verb

ex·​hale eks-ˈhāl 

ek-ˈsāl

exhaled; exhaling

intransitive verb

1

: to rise or be given off as vapor

2

: to emit breath or vapor

transitive verb

1

a

: to breathe out

She exhaled a sigh.

b

: to give forth (gaseous matter) : emit

2

archaic : to cause to be emitted in vapor

Synonyms of exhale

• expel
• blow (out)

Examples of exhale in a Sentence

She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, trying to relax.

before answering, the suspect exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke

Recent Examples on the Web

From Huntsville to Jackson to Atlanta, early confidence gave way to anxious afternoons before teams gave their home crowds a reason to exhale. — Wilton Jackson, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026

In this Oakland yard, Booth and design partner Clementine Jang tucked a barrel sauna in the corner, but the designers suggest a birdbath, fragrant herbs, or a simple wind chime for smaller-scale cues to exhale. — Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2026

Jeff Dean / Getty Images When Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow fumbled late in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh exhaled with a 30-27 win over a division rival. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026

No one exhaled until the cargo was unloaded, unswaddled, and confirmed to be in one piece. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English exalen, from Latin exhalare, from ex- + halare to breathe

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for exhale

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

Kids Definition

exhale

verb

ex·​hale eks-ˈhāl 

exhaled; exhaling

1

: to breathe out

2

: to send forth (as gas or odor)

Medical Definition

exhale

verb

ex·​hale eks-ˈ(h)ā(ə)l 

exhaled; exhaling

intransitive verb

: to emit breath or vapor

transitive verb

: to breathe out