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

Luka Doncic was sitting right on the edge of a one-game ban — but Los Angeles Lakers’ fans can exhale. —Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026

At the very top of the Spanish Steps, where the crowds thin and the city seems to exhale, Hotel de la Ville presides over Rome with quiet confidence. —Vicki Power, TheWeek, 23 Mar. 2026

Yeah, exorcising that demon of just kind of singing about it, putting it on paper, and then just kind of exhaling and let that go, that's an important process. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026

An American roster that boasts six Cy Young awards and seven MVP awards (plus six second-place finishes) can exhale. —Zack Meisel, New York Times, 12 Mar. 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