pant

1 of 5

verb

ˈpant 

panted; panting; pants

intransitive verb

1

a

: to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner

b

: to run panting

c

: to move with or make a throbbing or puffing sound

2

: to long eagerly : yearn

3

: throb, pulsate

transitive verb

: to utter with panting : gasp

pant

2 of 5

noun

1

a

: a panting breath

b

: the visible movement of the chest accompanying such a breath

2

: a throbbing or puffing sound

pant

3 of 5

variant of pants sense 1

pant

4 of 5

adjective

: of or relating to pants

a pant leg

pant-

5 of 5

combining form

variants or panto-

: all

pantisocracy

Synonyms

Verb

• gasp

Examples of pant in a Sentence

Verb

Dogs pant when they are hot.

The hikers were panting by the time they reached the top of the hill.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Our elders know how to make tools and sealskin pants the right way. —Jennie Punter, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025

Howard’s best comedies have a light, almost effortless touch, but this one is panting and gasping essentially from the opening frames. —Will Leitch, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025

Noun

The silk faille jacket was not quite white but a pale blush, and the loose pants and top beneath had an intricate pattern of silver beads. —Belinda Luscombe, Time, 5 Sep. 2025

The pants also come in regular, petite, and tall sizes for a more customized fit (although extended sizing is limited in sale styles). —Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2025

Adjective

Wearing blazers with capris is one way to bring pant trend into fall and gives a cool, elevated edge to a business casual look. —Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 21 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French panteiser, from Vulgar Latin *phantasiare to have hallucinations, from Greek phantasioun, from phantasia appearance, imagination — more at fancy

Combining form

Greek, from pant-, pas — more at pan-

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pant

• pant for breath
• yoga pant

Rhymes for pant

• ant
• aunt
• cant
• chant
• gant
• lant
• plant
• quant
• rant
• sant
• scant
• slant

Kids Definition

pant

verb

ˈpant

1

a

: to breathe hard or quickly : gasp

b

: to make a puffing sound

c

: to move forward with panting

the car panted up the hill

2

: to wish for eagerly : yearn

3

: to utter with panting

ran up and panted out the message

pant noun

Medical Definition

pant

intransitive verb

ˈpant 

: to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner