short of breath
phrase
: having difficulty breathing
She was short of breath and unable to talk after her run.
He is overweight and gets short of breath just walking to his car.
Cite this Entry
“Short of breath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20of%20breath. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
